Mimm^ 


IflllS;:::: 

':.iE;;®S-;Si 







Class 

BookJXJlSL 

Cniyright'N” .Q 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSkm 














R * 






^ . 


1 '*» .«' 



■'kr-rms C: ■ 

■ :o 

^ " * S ♦ '.*•'. 

’ A 4 l'/ 5 yi 

- fl ^1 

.Mm^ i 


.V ./ w-,‘ . uai , .' .'fc 


/\ 




i 


\1 




• 


t . 






-'> .,•' '‘/.i'r ':M 

V'-lr 

' ^ S>'i. J.t»\ •• ^■ 



:• '» ' 

'A' V 

. Vjh'- 

w. 

uriLf-- - ■ i,./^r 

, ■•l<‘ 'V •. 

•‘Vl I ‘ , ^ '>••** ^ k ‘ 





% 








* . 


1; 


'✓ 



i-' ♦ 


... jT^ ■ :- 

r.r'v?? 




Jt’ 


. s 


f*r*- 



J-, 




*■♦^44. 'TTS*“« 


I' « 


■ ;V..% 


% 


A' 


r . 


•4 ' 


M ’> € 


V 

• » » ^ 


/ ' • 1 
% J . ^ ^ " 


r 






4 -• 




1 


V 


VT -1 


> t 


ex'- 





* ■ ■*. V.t' .> ^ .-*r<i 

. v^- 

^yy 

~ . im. 






E ^fr-.-"' . ^'i- ■ 

?v>. aaji^i: 




s wja 



*#> 



# . 


- >•> ^«X','‘-''i'l 

■? 4 %., ■ ■ V : 




^ y '. r -■ IJb yayi » . 


f : ■ ■■■■ '.f- 




■ « ♦•'^ * - > ^ "k"*® ■ * *’ t J~M 

'^i - i V 

it * '• 4‘ .. S.- ^ .^.1 ' ? fji 5-^ 

6. • v-: ■ sftB#«£ , • : • 

♦ - ■ ■ ■’ ■ y ..; 

*■: 

^ i' 
kXS 


r-,'*' 


^ ' 'i 

c* ‘ 










On Guard ! 


AGAINST TORY AND TARLETON 


Containing 

Adventures of Stuart Schuyler 

Major of Cwvalry during the Resolution 


By 

JOHN PRESTON TRUE 


Author of “Their Club and Ours,” “Shoulder Arms, 
“The Iron Star,” “ Scouting for Washington,” 
“Morgan’s Men,” etc. 


>» 


Sltuistrateb bg 

LILIAN CRAWFORD TRUE 








A ) 
j > > 





) ) 



Boston 

Little, Brown, and Company 

1902 


pTHE tlSRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 
Cowfcs Reosiveo 

SEP. U 1902 

Cr>i»v^nHT ErrTRY 

Ci.ASSC*- XXa No. 
uhL> 
COV’Y B. 

' ^ 



Copyright, 1902, 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 
All rights reserved. 


Published September, 1902 



;:i 




UNIVERSITY PRESS • -JOHN WILSON 
AND SON • CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 


“ A story ! Hail ! A story ! ” 

’Tis the cry, 

Older than History ; mother of Tradition ; 

Maker of History, by wise addition. 

'Tis the sigh 

Leaping from, Youth's sweet lips unto the old and hoary. 
Seeking adventures told of days gone by, 

When Life was young, and love and strength were glory. 

Once, in the days when Earth itself was young. 

The story-teller graced the board of kings. 

Stealing away the weary hour that clings 
Clogging to idleness, when down are flung 
Stem Duty's sandals, shorn of their swift wings. 

So, in the days when Life is nearly done, 

When leaps the flame, but flickeringly and cold, 

The soul still seeks the story, — never old, — 

How that same Life from Death was hardly won. 

By costlier ransom than with untold gold. 

All hail unto the story! 

Is 't a l ie ? 

Nay, not so harshly, when thy heartstrings quiver 
In rhythm with these bubbles of Time's river. 

'Tis the sigh 

Breathing of bygone Youth unto the old and hoary, 

Dreaming adventures lived in days gone by, 

When Life wa,s young, and love and strength were glory. 

J. P. T. 







CONTENTS 


Chapter Page 

I. Lieut.-Colonel Banastre Tarleton re- 
flects 1 

II. Private Business versus Public. Why 
Lord Cornwallis failed to receive 
News from the Front 13 

III. The Watchers at the Ford .... 24 

IV. The Boad to McGowan’s 39 

V. How Stuart Schuyler warmly wel- 
comed Lord Cornwallis 52 

VI. How Silas Turnipseed played the Part 

OF Consoler 63 

VII. Lord Cornwallis has Ideas to explain 

ON SOME War Matters 75 

VIII. How THE Continental Army crossed 
THE Yadkin, and Stuart Schuyler’s 
Share therein 85 

IX. How Continental Web-feet made an 

Earl unhappy 96 

X. How General Greene wanted Stuart 

Schuyler for a Perilous Mission . 107 

XL Lord Cornwallis meets with a Loss . 120 

XH. How A Continental Wolf carried off 

A British Bulldog against his will 131 
XIII. How Stuart brought in a Prisoner for 

his General to Question .... 141 


CONTENTS 


viii 

Chapter Page 

XIV. The Result of the Council of War 152 

XV. How Lord Cornwallis learned a 
Geometrical Fact, that parallel 
Roads do not always meet . . . 161 

XVI. How General O’Hara found that to 

CEASE FROM CHASING A SHADOW YET 
DID NOT GIVE HIM THE SuBSTANCE . 172 

XVIL General O’Hara grows Classical at 

Lord Egerton’s Expense . . . . 181 

XVHL Guilford 191 

XIX. The Turning of the Battle-tide . . 202 

XX. How Stuart Schuyler meets Old Ac- 
quaintances, WHOM HE helped TO 

gather in 213 

XXL In which occurs a little History . 223 

XXH. Lord Egerton is made Trustee of a 

Rebel’s Fortune 234 

XXIII. For once Major Stuart Schuyler is 

surprised 245 

XXIV. The Home-coming 257 

XXV. A Furlough that had “Consequences” 269 

XXVI. What the Duke said 282 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FROM DRAWINGS BY LILIAN CRAWFORD TRUE 


‘ ‘ They cried out in sympathy as some keen stroke 


went nearly home ” Frontispiece 

“ Like a flash a figure was on its feet ” . . Page 89 

“ ‘ As I live, there lies the portmanteau itself “ 127 

“ Down in a heap they plunged together” . . “ 232 

“‘You have come for me? Very well, sir, T 

am ready’” “ 261 

“ ‘ I had no idea the colonies raised such girls 

as these’” “ 297 


1 ^ 




\ 













ON GUARD 


CHAPTER I. 


LIEUT.-COLONEL BANASTRE TARLETON 
REFLECTS. 

HE battle of Cowpens was a thing of 



JL the past, and Lieut.-Colonel Banastre 
Tarleton gloomily sat on his horse by the 
roadside. Around him, men were as busy 
as ants, yet they were careful in their 
busiest moments to keep at a respectful 
distance from the heels of Muskrat, and 
avoided disturbing his still more danger- 
ous rider. So the colonel tarried by the 
blazing pyre before him, fathoms deep in a 
brown study. 

The sky above him also was a study in 
brown, and the air was redolent with burn- 
ing leather; — leather saddlebags, leather 
boots, and other leathern matters military. 


2 


ON GUARD. 


The scent rose to the leaden heavens as a 
burnt offering to the god of war, and the 
skies wept tears as the smoke ascended. 
Smoke is bad for the eyes, especially the 
smoke of burning boots ; more particularly, 
army boots. 

Then the winds swept angrily athwart 
the lands and swirled the smoke-cloud 
miles away to leeward across country. 
But the scent of the boots went down with 
the blast only to give place to fresh incense 
which rose skyward in redoubled puffing 
at the next lull ; and the clouds still 
wept. 

Muskrat moved suddenly, reached out a 
snaky neck, and viciously snapped. It was 
a w'ay he had, and his rider awoke from 
force of habit acquired at such times. A 
passing soldier made a spasmodic dive for- 
ward and felt the hot breath on his ear as 
the yellow teeth clashed together a hair’s- 
breadth back of it; then he hurried on, 
clutching to make sure that all of his head 
was still properly connected with the neck, 
and speaking unkindly under his breath in 
regard to the saintly Muskrat. 


LIEUT.-COL. BANASTRE TARLETON. 3 

Tarleton smiled, rather pleased than 
otherwise. Awe of the horse increased 
respect for his rider, and men such as he 
commanded required sharp control. Then 
he swayed lithely in his saddle as without 
any warning whatever Muskrat in his turn 
gave a sudden spring for safety at the 
passing of a creature more vicious than 
himself; — a creature with long scimitar 
spikes on her head, a red flash in her eye, 
and a quick, feminine alertness as she sped 
past, tail in air. It was hard to believe 
that this roaring, hurtling, catapult of a 
being was not a beast wild from the forest, 
a meat eater rushing from her lair; that 
she was only an errant specimen of the 
common, or garden cow, culled from some 
settler’s yard by an insistent raider. Yet 
so it was ! and for her warlike guise grim 
war itself was wholly responsible, unless, 
perchance, her own dire future, Cassandra- 
like, was visible to her broad eyes, doomed 
as she was not many days onward to make 
tough steaks for tougher men to pretend 
to eat. 

Behind her like stern fate rode a long- 


4 


ON GUARD. 


haired, fringed and tasselled mountaineer, 
brandishing ten feet of hackmatack sapling, 
springy as lancewood, light as bamboo, once 
peeled yellow by some boy to season and 
serve as a fishing-rod, now sharpened to 
a wicked point and doing duty as a cattle 
spear in the hands of a Carolina raider. 

Ha ! Smallhorn ! ” cried the colonel in 
surprise, holding up his hand as a signal to 
halt. I thought we had lost you at the 
Cowpens.” 

“Hit^s no such easy matter to lose a 
mountain man. Gunnel,’’ said the scout, 
obediently drawing rein. 

But how did you escape ? You cer- 
tainly did not ride away with the cavalry.” 
The Carolinian chuckled softly as he re- 
called the manner in which the colonel him- 
self had left that stricken field — at full 
gallop, with a little cloud of impertinent 
continentals like mosquitoes in his rear. 

’T war like this. Gunnel,” he said, 
smoothing his face. My boss was shot. 
He war n’t much good, nohow, so ’t was 
just as well. But he went down so sud- 
den-like that I went about ten feet through 


LIEUT.-COL. BANASTRE TARLETON. 5 

the air an’ lit in a briar patch. Must he 
he got a bullet through his haid, ter drop 
’im like that. Thar was a little run oozin’ 
through the briars, and the water had sort 
o’ scooped out the earth under the roots in 
floodtime. So thar was just room for a 
man to slip down into its bed edgewise, 
if he made himself flatter ’n a riven shingle. 
Then, a foot down, thar was room enough 
ter lie down proper fashion. 

I wiggled inter that hole quicker ’n a 
mushrat with a ’gator arter ’im, an’ brushed 
back the grass till ’twas some straight. 
’T war n’t just the place for a rheumatic 
man, for the water kep’ a-comin’ in at my 
leggins an’ out at my neck in a steady 
stream, ’cos I’d dammed the little creek 
plum up. Br-r-r-r ! ” — the man gave an in- 
voluntary wriggle and shiver at the thought. 

’T was as long a day as ever I lived, an’ 
I don’t want to be buried again befo’ my 
time comes, less I kin have a drier hole. 
I ’d sense enough to stay quiet till dark, 
an’ then dim’ out an’ started. Luck went 
my way, for once, for I run across a pretty 
good hoss loose in the woods.” 


6 


ON GUARD. 


The fire smoked and crackled, and lit- 
tle squads of men came staggering up to 
fling their burdens on the blazing heap. 

Full dress uniforms, gold lace, and ruffles 
showed themselves helplessly from the 
broken portmanteaux for a moment, then 
the hungry flames reached red fingers 
toward them and they melted away. The 
Carolinian could not repress a cry. What 
wealth was going up in smoke before 
him ! How well that cocked hat would 
look in the place of his present shape- 
less headpiece. Forgetting discipline he 
made a dash for the article and rescued 
it only a little singed and triumphantly 
clapped it on his head. The effect made 
even Tarleton laugh grimly, but he forbore 
to mar the man’s satisfaction by any com- 
ment. What did it matter ? Lord Corn- 
wallis had ordered all superfluous baggage 
to be burned, and if Smallhorn had a mili- 
tary use for any of it he was welcome to 
make it his own. Thus mused the colonel, 
revolving many things in his stern mind ; 
and much he had to muse upon, for his 
late defeat rankled like a barbed arrow 


LIEUT.-COL. BANASTRE TARLETON. 7 

which could neither be removed nor yet 
forgotten. 

To chase an adversary night and day 
through swamp and forest and at last come 
up with him in the open; to charge in 
fashion which had been victorious so many 
times before ; then to be outflanked in 
open country and beaten by his despised 
enemy ! The colonel fairly writhed at the 
recollection. Then came intruding thoughts 
of prior events not wholly soothing at such 
a time. 

^^Smallhorn/' he said abruptly, interrupt- 
ing the latter’s close supervision of the ar- 
ticles which were being flung to the sacrifice 
by the toiling men. 

Sah!^’ 

In the chase after them before the 
battle, did you get sight of a rebel on a 
big black horse?” 

The colonel was too great a man to jest 
with, especially on that subject of all others, 
but it was a great temptation to Smallhorn 
to remind him of various occurrences con- 
nected with that same rebel and his horse 
which had happened when both Tarleton 


8 


ON GUARD. 


and his scout-master had stood within 
aggravatingly close distance ; but he choked 
down his desire to laugh, aided by some 
wrathful recollections of his own, and re- 
plied : — 

Er reckon, sah. Saw more 'n I wanted, 
an' a sight closer 'n I wanted, one time. 
Square-built sort o' young fellow in British 
gaiters 'n' rebel huntin' shirt, with some 
sort o' epaulettes on ? " 

Exactly." 

Thought so. Last time I saw him, 
I had n't been in my hole one minute befo' 
his boss stood within a yard o’ me. The 
grass that I'd scratched up straight-like 
across my face had n't hardly done shakin' 
an' I was all of a sweat by the time he 
moved on. The scamp has the eye of a hawk, 
an' as he did n't see me I 've made up my 
mind it was about the level best bit o' hidin' 
of a trail that I ever did. Anything short o’ 
the best an' I'd been a lost man. I lay 
thar all day like a mud-turkle, with the 
ice-water a-oozin' in at my heels an' out 
at my neck 'fore 't was safe ter dim' out. 
Br-r-r-r ! 


LIEUT.-COL. BANASTRE TARLETON. 9 

That bath evidently made a deep impres- 
sion on Smallhorn. He was n’t used to them. 

The colonel stared gloomily at the fire, 
and Smallhorn uneasily wondered if he had 
not been too talkative. He had never said 
so much to his commander in all his pre- 
vious campaigning. The officer looked up 
suddenly. 

Smallhorn, I want you to catch that 
man for me.” 

The loyalist started, and shook his head 
decidedly. 

Can’t do it, nohow. Gunnel. He knows 
too much. P’r’aps if all of my men wot ’s 
left just make it our reg’lar business we can 
manage to shoot ’im, tho’.” 

No ! that won’t do. I want him alive. 
I ’ll take care of his ending, myself. There 
must be chances to cut him ofi from his men 
if you use your wits as well for risking your 
neck as you have for saving it.” 

Well — we ’ve tried shootin’ an’ had n’t 
no luck, that ’s a fact. Maybe, we mought 
hunt ’im down if the earl don’t want us 
a-scoutin’. But it’ll be a risk — a desp’rit 
risk. I dunno what my men ’ll say.” 


10 


ON GUARD. 


Then tell them this ! ’’ — came the im- 
pulsive answer. ‘‘The day that fellow is 
placed in my hands alive — I don’t say 
you ’re not to wing him, mind ! — there 
will be £50 in solid British gold to be 
distributed among the takers; and £10 
more for you, a matter which need not be 
told to them. ” 

Smallhorn stared; then a grin of in- 
tense delight spread over his hard face. 
The money seemed a fortune 1 and patri- 
otism reinforced by coin of the realm 
made a very ardent patriot indeed of the 
worthy Smallhorn, loyal subject of King 
George. 

“Well, Gunnel, we’ll try it on, and’arn 
that gold if we anyways kin. But of co’se 
we-uns don’t tell any one else about the bar- 
gain. There ’ll be pardners enough as it 
is.” 

Tarleton nodded in silent satisfaction, 
but was saved other reply by the arrival of 
a trim-built aide-de-camp who came trotting 
busily up with — 

“ Lord Cornwallis’s compliments to 
Leftenant-Colonel Tarleton, and he is ready 


LIEUT. -COL. BANASTRE TARLETON. 11 

to march. He desires the cavalry to go 
forward.” 

Then, that official duty done, he ex- 
claimed, ruefully, And he won't let me go 
with you ! 

The colonel smiled and Smallhorn 
chuckled audibly. 

He thinks too much of you, Lord 
Egerton, to let you run needless risks ; but 
be comforted with the thought that chasing 
rebels in the rain is gloomy work and with 
little honor and even less profit in the 
task. Get on ahead with your scouts, 
Smallhorn, at once. Present my respects 
to the earl, my lord, and report the order 
obeyed. Where 's my trumpeter ? " And 
the conference broke up. 

Meanwhile, far away northward across a 
broad water a young man with folded arms 
sat on a powerful black horse, both well- 
nigh as motionless as stone. The youth 
wore a dun yellow, buckskin hunting shirt, 
and war-dimmed epaulettes were on his 
broad young shoulders. A screen of under- 
growth masked him from the river; but 


12 


ON GUARD. 


through a tunnel-like rift in the branches 
two stern eyes searched the secrets of the 
southern thickets beyond the swirling flood 
with the gaze that never tires — the gaze 
of a puritan on duty, and yet a hunter of 
men. 


CHAPTER II. 


PRIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. WHY 
LORD CORNWALLIS FAILED TO RECEIVE 
NEWS FROM THE FRONT. 

F or two long, dreary days the rain had 
been falling steadily. It was a wet 
rain. The trees dripped water. It hissed 
among the branches. The roads were 
afloat. The rivers were steadily rising, for 
the great sponges wrapped around the roots 
of the forest could hold no more moisture. 
Yet through the rain King George’s loyal 
army plodded, wet, grumpy, squashing on- 
ward northward. 

We must press them hard now, gentle- 
men, ” said Lord Cornwallis to his group 
of unhappy sub-chiefs — Lieutenant-Colonel 
Webster, Leslie, O’Hara, and others as they 
hunched their rain-cloaks closer around 
their necks with shrugging shoulders, and 
now and then a shiver as an errant gust 
drove a stinging spurt of cold water into 


14 


ON GUARD. 


some unguarded collar. ^‘This rain is as 
bad for Mr. Greene as it is for us. It is 
worse, for his men can desert, and will, 
while ours are Britons.’' 

^^With some few exceptions,” inter- 
posed Colonel Webster with a smile, as his 
eye fell meditatively on a man in the ranks 
in whom red, white, and negro blood seemed 
about equally mingled. 

‘^1 am more and more convinced,” 
continued the earl, that the true way to 
end this rebellion is to forget that there are 
towns and cities and keep our aim fixed 
permanently on the rebel army.” 

That is Colonel Tarleton’s idea, I 
believe, and ^push them!’ his motto,” 
observed Leslie. But it may be carried 
too far. Had he waited for me at the 
Cowpens that disaster might have been 
avoided.” 

But Lord Cornwallis came promptly to 
the rescue of his lieutenant in the midst 
of the murmur of assent, with — 

‘‘That was quite out of the common, 
and hardly to be foreseen. Per contra^ it is 
easy to see what would have happened had 


PRIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. 15 

he waited. These rebels are the most 
elusive, slippery fellows man ever fought 
against. Give them time and they ’ll find, 
like eels, the one weak point in the mesh 
of your strongest net. Why, I myself felt 
sure of Mr. Washington at the Assunpink, 
yet he managed to steal away in the night 
without a sound, and left not so much as a 
worn-out flint for my men to strike at. A 
mistake is not necessarily a fault until it is 
made a second time. By itself it is a step 
in military education. As Braddock said 
when he died, — ^ we shall know better 
how to deal with them next time ; ’ and 
although he himself could not profit by it, 
poor fellow, those who came after him did, 
hence he did not die in vain.’’ 

^‘Now I think of it, sir,” queried Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Webster, did not this Mr. 
Washington get some of his training under 
Braddock?” 

^^No doubt. Braddock was an experi- 
enced soldier, a winner of many battles. 
To serve under him would be a privilege 
to a provincial. I dare say it was so 
regarded and profited by. Still, war is a 


16 


ON GUARD. 


game of chance as well as wit. A fight 
in the open, with drums beating and colours 
flying, or a siege, may be carried through 
by rule. But in a campaign like ours with 
new and ever changing situations, often 
there are no precedents to follow, and 
known rules are found to be influenced if 
not controlled by unknown factors, which 
being unknown sometimes cause strange 
results ; and that reminds me ! our scouts 
appear to be unusually slow in sending 
back reports, or in finding news to report. 
Lord Egerton, be good enough to ride on 
to the van and see what they are doing.*’ 
As the young aide cantered away, the 
earl continued, relapsing into the easy, 
conversational manner which he liked to 
assume when with his military family 
about him — ^^That is a singularly attrac- 
tive young man. Always ready for any 
duty, rough or smooth, always sunny and 
good tempered. I have set him some 
remarkably disagreeable tasks at times and 
have never seen him ruffled.” 

I have, before you took him from 
me,” laughed Lieutenant-Colonel Webster. 


PRIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. 17 

When we were near Charleston he brought 
in a pretty young loyalist one day who had 
some information of value ; and he looked 
distinctly glum when I sent her on to head- 
quarters in charge of an older man. But I 
knew my duty to a subordinate and a 
grandson, if he is the sometime heir to an 
earldom,” — and a laugh broke from the 
group. 

can swear to that, Webster,” smiled 
General O’Hara. Faith of my sword, 
it was an ould martinet he called you about 
then in his heart. I saw the young lady, 
too, and it was little she thanked you for 
that same. But it ’s mistaken ye are 
about the earldom. It’s a duke the lad 
will be if the rebels will let him live 
long enough and some one or two others 
don’t live too long; and you can’t blame 
a provincial girl for wantin’ her chance to 
be a duchess.” 

His noble grandfather would be espe- 
cially pleased to have a colonial daughter-in- 
law, no doubt,” cut in General Leslie. I ’ve 
seen the old fellow. He threw the tongs 
at the head of the lad’s uncle for less. If 


18 


ON GUARD. 


the girl but knew it, she ’s had a lucky 
escape. ’T would be a vara tryin’ life for 
the lassie I misdoot.” 

Why man, it is n’t the Duke she would 
marry.” 

Heaven forbid ! ” was the pious response, 
in so fervent a tone that the others burst 
out laughing, and even the earl had a voice 
in the merriment. 

Meanwhile, the object of this inconsid- 
erate gossip was cantering onward through 
the mud and wet after the recreant scouts. 
He found them grouped under a huge 
tree like hens dodging a rain shower, 
instead of being spread abroad on their 
proper business. More, when the freak 
seized him to check his horse and steal up 
to them at a walk through the sodden 
grass, so intent were they in their own 
affairs that the muffled footfalls of the 
aide’s steed failed to attract their attention, 
much to that officer’s surprise. But his 
own ears were in better command for 
legitimate business, and a frown darkened 
the young man’s brows as he listened. 


PRIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. 19 


Smallhorn apparently was answering 
some question. 

Yo’ see, fust off, the fellow just plumb 
took the cunnel in, for sartin. Nobody 
likes that ! Next, he run off with the 
Gunnel’s best boss. Oh, but he was a 
beauty, too ! That alone is a bangin’ 
matter. Then kim suthin’ that nobody 
hyar knows the rights of, ’cept the cunnel, 
an’ we-uns don’t ask him. Er reckon 
’t would n’t be healthy, somehow. But 
hyar’s some sign that yo^ kin read like b’ar- 
tracks on a mud bank when the ol’ fellow ’s 
been frog-catchin’. The night that Tartar 
was run off, the cunnel an’ two orderlies 
was out a-scoutin’. Them two men never 
kim back. The cunnel did, but on the 
back o’ that four-footed Satan — Mushrat, 
an’ lookin’ rather frousy, for a cunnel ; as 
though he’d taken a roll in a sandbank 
like. Now, the last we-uns seed o’ Jack 
Stuart that night he was a-leadin’ Tartar 
an’ a-ridin’ that identicle Mushrat. The 
next time we see Tartar, Stuart was a-ridin’ 
him an’ cap’n of a gang o’ rebels making it 
plenty hot for we-uns. So I read the trail 


20 


ON GUARD. 


that they all met that night an’ fought it 
out, an’ Stuart kirn out on top. 

Then yo’ know how he an’ his ’n stood 
we-uns off when we were a-huntin’ ol’ 
Morgan ; an’ when they turned on us at 
the Cowpens an’ give us such a dustin’ we- 
uns could see Tartar right in the thick of 
it, an’ some of us more ’n saw — we felt 
the aidge of a sword with an almighty arm 
behind it ! Oh, I tell yo’, boys, £50 jist 
means nothin’ at all ter the cunnel pervided 
he kin buy Jack Stuart with it an’ have 
fun with him for just a leetle while. I 
don’t myself think it would be over long. 
The cunnel ’s too mad ter take his own 
time.” 

Wot do yo’ s’pose he ’ll do ter ’im ? ” 

No idee, Batt. But that ’s his business, 
not ourn. I don’t reckon the lad would die 
right quick, but er reckon he won’t live ter 
a green ol’ age, nuther.” 

We \e got ter wrastle with this thing 
fust, Smallhorn, an’ that is, how ter git 
’im,” interposed another. I like gold as 
well as any man, but I ain’t altogether sure 
I want it quite bad enough ter git it this 


PRIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. 21 


way. How in thunder do yo’ expect ter 
ketch ’im when we all could n’t git a fair 
shot at ’im on the way up ? ’T war n’t for 
lack o’ tryin’, nuther. I kin shoot, I kin, 
an’ yo’ know it, an’ I war n’t quick enough 
fer all that ; but he was, an’ I ’ve got a 
hole in my year fer not dodgin’ more sudden- 
like, an’ 1 ’ m some at a dodge, too ! An’ 
our crowd ’s three, no, four, short now o’ 
fellers as thought they were smart at it an’ 
war n’t smart enough.” 

Wall — ” said Smallhorn, slowly, I ’ve 
been thinkin’ considerable. Thar’s ways, 
mebbe. Now, if ary one of us could write ? ” 
he paused inquiringly. All grinned a little 
and shook their heads. That ’s unlucky. 
However, we kin fall back on the cunnel. 
All we-uns need is a letter, ter deliver under 
a flag o’ truce, an’ fix it so that he ’ll be 
the one next us ter git it ; an’ while he ’s 
a-readin’ of it we-uns kin jist git ter busi- 
ness right lively.” 

There was a pause. 

Eather risky, ain’t it ? ” queried one. 

Seems like our own necks might git made 
a bit longer. 01’ Cornwallis ’s a bit touchy 


22 


ON GUARD. 


about flags ’n’ sich. Reg lar army tictacs, 
yo’ know, the big ginerals all jist fall down 
an’ worship. I ’m ’fraid we would n’t have 
a happy time with that <£50 long, ’arned 
that way.” 

^^Then we could fall back on orders, 
Quin, an’ swear that the cunnel told us to. 
We kin git some one handy ter see ’im give 
us the letter, so he can’t go back on us if 
he wants to. But how ’s the earl ter know, 
anyhow? We-uns won’t turn the feller 
over ter him! Much good that would do 
the cunnel. He don’t want ter pay hard 
money jist ter see Jack Stuart a-dinin’ 
easy-like at Cornwallis’s table, bein’ an 
officer, yo’ know, doggone ’im ! ” 

Then a sudden silence fell upon the 
group, and hastily looking over his shoulder 
Smallhorn was dismayed to find his glance 
meeting the stern eyes of one of Cornwallis’s 
aides-de-camp whose shrewdness he had seen 
put to the test in many ways in days gone 
by, yet not found lacking ; and he could not 
meet those eyes. Then his ears stung with 
the sternness of the official message — 

^‘Lord Cornwallis wishes to know why 


PKIVATE BUSINESS VERSUS PUBLIC. 23 

he is receiving no reports from his scouts. 
What reason can you give that will satisfy 
him?’’ 

And that night the van of the earl’s army 
stood wrath fully on the brink of a swirling, 
muddy river, sweeping resistlessly seaward 
in a flood full five hundred yards wide. 
But of the rebels — not a sign ! Whereat 
the noble earl was inclined to make life 
slightly unpleasant for the patriotic Small- 
horn, whose devotion to fifty sovereigns, 
plus a private quota, was some fifty times 
greater than his loyalty to one. 


V 


CHAPTER III. 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 

S AY-Y, Gavin ! '' drawled a lengthy 
militia-man to his mate, lazily, with 
a backward jerk of his head as he finished 
carving a long shaving from a stick with a 
knife nearly as long. 

Well ? ” said the man addressed. 

Is that young feller allers so silent- 
like?’’ 

“ Who ? the major ? ” 

^^Um.” 

Why, wot should he talk about ? ” 
queried the other in some surprise. 

He mought say ^ howdy/ responded 
the militia-man, a little drily. Then he ’d 
’a’ said exactly three words since Gineral 
Davidson sent ’im down yere ter watch 
this ford ; and of the other two, one was 
^ ’light ! ’ an’ t’ other was ‘ hitch.’ We-uns 
did both, accordin’ to order ; but he ’s done 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 25 

nary thing but sit thar still on that stun- 
nin' black boss of his ’n as stiddy as an ol’ 
pine stub. P’r’aps be ’s thinkin’ of bis girl 
— hey, Gavin ? ” 

Not he ! I ’ve knowed him ever since 
he jined Sumter; an' not then, nor arter- 
ward under ol' Morgan did I ever see 'im 
take two looks at that sort o’ cattle. I 
won’t say as how he never took one, ’cos 
them restless eyes o’ his ’n see ’bout every- 
thin’ that kirns along. But that’s as far 
as it goes.” 

Don’t bet on that, Gavin Paynt ! ” cut 
in another individual in a hunting shirt 
even more fringed and tasselled than 
ordinary. 

What do yo’ know about it, Sile 
Turnipseed ? ” 

Oh, nex’ ter nothin’. Yo’ need n’t r’ar. 
Only — I know b’ar-sign in a canebrake 
when one ’s been along ; an’ over two days 
beyond the Cowpens thar ^s a smooth-barked 
tree in a grove, an’ thar ’s some carvin’ on 
it; jist two sets o’ letters — ^S. S.’ for one, 
an’ it ’s easy enough ter know who them 
Stan’s for ; an’ ^ P. H.’ for t’ other, an’ it 


26 


ON GUAKD. 


ain’t so easy to know who that ’s for ; an’ 
all of ’em ’s inside jist ther puttiest heart 
that ever I seed drawed — an’ it don’t need 
no kind of an eye ter know wot that meant. 
The major was only a cap’n then, but if he 
was thinkin’ o’ war, or any kind o’ two- 
legged men about that time, then clouds 
rain cats in Jinerwary.” 

I reckon yo’ ’re right, Sile,” chimed in 
another of the group, shifting his heavy 
rifle to an easier hollow in his lengthy 
limbs. I ’member I was doin’ a bit o' 
carvin’ myself about then.” 

Wall — mebbe ” — replied the unbeliev- 
ing Gavin. But lemme see ; I reckon 
’twas yo’, Ike Yocum, that I stumped to 
break a bit of stick ter see if he ’d hear it, 
’bout then, an’ yo’ was fool enough ter take 
me up an’ do it ; — an’ got called no hunter 
in two whifls’ time for it.” 

That ’s so ; an’ I said as how I ’d lick 
yo’, Gavin, arter we crossed ther Broad. I 
reckon I ’d better do it now ” — and the 
man laid his rifle carefully down and be- 
gan to rise deliberately from his lounging 
place. 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 27 


None o' that, Ike ! " interposed Silas 
Turnipseed, hastily. ‘‘ Yo' 'll bring ther 
major down on us in no time ; an’ say in' 
nothin' o' the chance o' gittin' shot for 
mutiny, don't forgit what Rube Yadkin tol' 
yo' 'bout the major's grip. I know for a fact 
that he could lay out ary one of us. Besides, 
't ain’t fair, Ike. Gavin stumped y o’. Yo' 
took 'im up. When a man does that, wot 
happens is his risk, 'n' no hard feelin’s 
orter come. Ain't that so, fellers ? " 

Right, Sile ! Yo' 'll be a jedge, yit. 
Quit it, Ike." 

Wall, Gavin, the odds are ag’in me, an' 
I reckon Sile's right, besides. We'll call 
it squar’ if yo’ don't let me inter no mo' 
traps." 

Can't promise that, Ike, nohow,” re- 
joined Gavin, coolly. ^^The mo' traps o^ 
that kind yo’ git laid fer yo', 'n' caught in, 
the mo' yo’ ’ll be likely ter spot a right hefty 
one when it 's in yo’ path. I 've sort o' 
taken a contrac’ so ter speak ’bout yo’ eddi- 
cation, Ike; an' yo" re improvin' — yo"re 
improvin’ — ” and Gavin smiled exasper- 
atingly. Then he dodged a pine knot that 


28 


ON GUARD. 


Yocum sent swiftly in his direction, and 
throwing up a ready hand he caught the 
missile deftly in mid-air. 

There, Ike,” he said cheerfully, as he 
laid the weapon down, I Ve kep' yo’ 
char of another muss with the major. If 
that’d gone ker-smash inter the brush 
yo’ ’d heard from Tm sudden-like. Now 
quit.” 

Wall, yo’ quit, too ! ” 

And Gavin promised peace, pro tem. 
Meanwhile, Major Stuart Schuyler, young 
and bronzed, but lately promoted from a 
hard-won captaincy, with three years of 
soldiering as a private before that through 
rain and shine, still sat motionless upon 
his horse, with folded arms, and gazed 
meditatively through his rift in the branches 
and across the broad water which he had 
been set to watch. It was not at the head 
of the ford, for the rocky bar across that 
five hundred yards of flood did not come 
direct, but curved and ended full fifty yards 
up-stream from where he stood, as the 
greater force of the flood near the opposite 
shore had swept the small boulders down- 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 29 

ward, and they lay where the floods had 
left them. It was a well-chosen spot for 
an outpost, protected by the expanse of 
treacherously deep water in the front ; and 
it gave a good view of the distant shore, 
beside. 

Yet after all, Gavin the keen-sighted, 
the matter-of-fact hunter, was wrong ; and 
Ike Yocum, the but slightly lettered Yocum, 
was right, purely from the subtle fellow- 
ship common to men young and old when 
they are in like case ; — and the major 
was young enough — he had his majority 
birthday yet to see, in spite of his war- 
won title ! So, while his eyes were doing 
their duty as automatically as the foot 
swings along the path, where were those 
flashing thoughts of his centred, signalling 
back to some other part of his brain ideas 
that set the steady, humdrum, business 
heart a-beating a bound or two in quicker 
time ? Let us see — what he would have 
given worlds to see just then ! 

How the wind whistled ! It cut across 
the barn-yard until the cows refused to 


30 


ON GUARD. 


face it and lowed until they were taken in. 
It scooped the ground bare of snow, leaving 
the frozen earth looking all the colder. It 
shrieked across the pigeon-holes in the barn, 
high up in the gable, and although a gentle 
hand had closed them tight from within 
with a shutter rigged, sailorwise, with a 
cord and tackle — a halliard block from a 
ship’s longboat — the doves within shivered 
and crowded together and piled themselves 
into an undulating heap in their cote, taking 
turns at staying in the warm bottom of the 
pile. A loose shingle on the roof fluttered. 
It was a shaved shingle four feet long, and 
it rattled like a snare drum. It exposed a 
knot-hole when it lifted, through which the 
wind thrilled like a fife in throbbing notes 
that kept time to the flutter of the shutter. 
It was war time, so the wild song of the 
wind was a song of war. 

The scooped-up snow must settle some- 
where, and where better than along the 
south side and around the corner of the 
low-browed farmhouse where the roses grew 
in summer in tangled thickets ? There it 
rested, at all events, and the great drift 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 31 

grew and grew till the slope-line of the 
roof ran unbroken to the surface of the 
yard ; and still the snow-wreaths curled 
like a white flame over the ridgepole and 
came sifting downward with a ceaseless 
seething, rustling, nestling down. 

That is why it was so dark in the corners 
of the room below ; and why the firelight 
from the great backlog — now two days 
a-burning — glowed so redly and made 
shadows, and glittered ruddily on metal 
things, and put fresh red on some girlish 
cheeks that nowadays were a little pale 
at times. 

For a girl sat before that fire in a low 
chair ; and across her lap lay an ungirlish 
thing — a rifle. Yet as one would ever so 
tenderly care for a treasured violin, so with 
dainty fingers she was touching the carved 
stock here and there with an oil-dipped 
feather, following it by deft rubbing with a 
soft cloth ; and when she found a tiny rust- 
spot no larger than a freckle on the lock 
in an obscure place she mourned over it as 
over a great fault, and softly kissed the 
silver nameplate on the stock, although 


32 


ON GUARD. 


smooth and white and guiltless of any 
name as yet, save in the girl’s budding 
imagination. 

Then to her entered an irreverent younger 
sister, saying, — 

‘‘ Come, Pearly ! when you ’ve quite — 
quite finished hugging Stuart’s gun — I ’ve 
got the rug-frame all ready and wait- 
ing,” which, as between sisters, needed 
neither more grammar nor more explicit 
speech. What is left unsaid in this world 
of ours sometimes is quite as expressive as 
a shout from the housetop, and something 
redder than the firelight flushed into one 
girl’s cheek as she hastily put the heavy 
weapon down, whereat the other laughed 
mischievously. 

Then carefully, very carefully hanging 
the weapon on the hooks made and pro- 
vided for the purpose over the fireplace, the 
taller girl flicked a tear gently out of her 
long lashes, carelessly rumpled the hair on 
the brow of the shorter girl who bristled 
indignantly at the indignity — for was she 
not nearly sixteen ? then compromised by 
an impetuous embrace. 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 33 

I miss him too, dear, ’most as much as 
you do ; but he ’ll come back sometime, 
with a lot more honours, a general perhaps. 
My ! what would you do if they were 
dishonours ? ” she ended irrelevantly. 

Then tall Pearl Hathaway straightened 
up and the chestnut tinge in her eyes 
seemed to deepen ; into her voice came a 
ring, strong and resolute. 

Then they would be unmerited and he 
would need me ; and I — I should love 
him! love him! love him! — more than 
ever ! ” — and a full minute passed before 
it occurred to her that never before had 
she been surprised into such confession 
even to herself. Then when it did dawn 
upon her what she had said, a rosy sunrise 
was dim in comparison, and not more 
beautiful to witness than her face; at 
which Rhoda laughed outright, delightedly, 
still more mischievously ! 

0 Pearly ! if Stuart could but see you 
now 1 What fun it will be to tell him, 
some day. How did he say it to you — and 
when ? ” — and there again one needed to 
look beyond mere words for interpretation ; 

3 


34 


ON GUARD. 


— for of such is the speech of girls — at 
times. 

Khoda Hathaway, don’t you ever dare ! 
He never has — yet!” and the rosy face 
vanished in total eclipse over Rhoda’s 
shoulder where it could not be scrutinized 
by those appallingly laughing eyes of that 
irreverent younger sister, whose time for 
such things had not yet come. Then came 
a swift, stern pang that in some way of 
loving sisterliness went straight to each 
girl’s heart, different only in degree : — 
what if he should not come back — and 
many never do ! 

Tick 1 ” said the tall clock outside, in 
the kitchen corner. And no one spoke. 

Tack 1 ” said the clock again. 

Tick I tack!” went the slow, stately 
strokes that told of passing time that 
never comes back, before either girl 
stirred. Then Rhoda in a small voice, 
quite unlike her usual merry tone, half- 
whispered, — 

But he will return, Pearly ! ” 

To which the other could reply with 
bowed head only, — 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 35 

I pray he may ! 

Whir-r-r ! — boom ! ” went the clock, 
suddenly. Clang ! ” 

This is a busy world, wherein the best of 
life lies in helping that same world along 
its limping way, and Pearl Hathaway must 
do her part ! So out to her place and task 
she went, and as a part of her reward, soon 
the brave eyes once more were tearless and 
looking maidenly onward into a future as 
yet unknown, untold, while the deft, 
strong fingers carried on her household 
art. Nearly half the kitchen was taken 
up by a light, yet rigid frame in which lay 
stretched a broad expanse of the coarsest 
woven homespun. It rested on trestles like 
a bridge. Over this the sisters already had 
spent many a serious, anxious thought with 
wrinkled brows ; and even at this last 
minute something was left for final de- 
cision. 

This shall be the way of it, Rhoda ! 
said Pearl, with finality. A great rose 
in the centre with broad green leaves ; and 
in each corner, and halfway along the sides 
and ends little clusters of small crossed 


36 


ON GUAEt). 


roses with small leaves, the corner ones the 
larger ; and the filling shall be 

Oh ! won’t that be monstrous fine ! 
and sometime for your ^ best room, ’ eh, 
Pearly ? ” and perhaps there was a traitorous 
sparkle in the elder girl’s eyes as she 
turned hastily away and searched the ashes 
of the fireplace for a dead, black coal. 
She took her time about finding it, too, 
hoping that her cheeks would stop blushing 
if she gave them time. But was merry, 
loving, laughing Rhoda unaware of the 
meaning of that delay ? Hardly. What 
impishness is born spontaneously in the 
hearts of younger sisters who have older ones 
to tease and no fear whatever of the wrath 
to come ! nor of their own time to come 
after ! There is but one more inconvenient 
accident of life — a younger brother with 
like opportunities for unholy joy. 

But the coal had to be found at last ; and 
with it the maiden, skilled in all household 
arts, sketched on the canvas the design 
she had suggested, no more, no less, save 
that in one corner group she wove into the 
plan the initials of her name P. H.” and 


THE WATCHERS AT THE FORD. 37 

below it quite openly the date. Then 
when her sister was not looking, in an 
opposite corner she shyly added two small 
letters S. S.*' close to a protecting rose- 
leaf, almost siib rosa in fact ; and then hur- 
riedly was all that side of the canvas rolled 
up around a smooth, peeled log of hackma- 
tack, well seasoned, light and dry, safe 
keeper of secrets, till but a foot of level fab- 
ric remained in sight, with its outer edge 
laced to a sapling. 

Before this sat the girl, in her hand a 
short steel tool with a curved handle and 
a barbed point ; and at her side orderly 
baskets of differently coloured rags. All 
along the edge she began her work, thrust- 
ing in her hook and drawing through each 
mesh of the canvas a rag of the proper 
hue, leaving the end on each side as nearly 
equal to its fellows as she could. Later, 
shears would reduce all to a common level 
and the rug would be the same pattern on 
either side. A long, slow task do you 
think? But two could work at it, and 
there was another hook, and Rhoda. And 
thus there were two girls with a-plenty to 


38 


ON GUARD. 


talk about between them. So never mind 
the mournful howl of the wind around the 
corner, or the flash of a snow-wreath out- 
side as it crackled and hissed against the 
window-panes. The firelight was cosey. 
The coals glowed red and warm. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAN's. 

M ajor SCHUYLER’S respec’s to 
Gineral Davidson, sah, an’ they ’re 
a-comin’.” 

The speaker had an air of excitement 
smothered by the awe of military etiquette 
to which he was unwonted. There was a 
touch of the wilderness about him which went 
deeper than his garb. Thus cautiously a 
buck might step down the shelving bank 
for a drink, conscious of rapier horn and 
dagger hoof, yet ever wary, wary. 

The officer addressed lay under a tree 
wrapped in a blanket as tightly as a 
mummy, and yet further protected from 
the drizzling damp by a section of bark as 
big as a chimney-flue, which curled around 
him in its natural curve, fresh peeled from 
its tree. His lean head projected like a 
turtle as he craned his neck upward to 


40 


ON GUARD. 


scrutinize the messenger. He coughed, a 
dry^ cough, as he sank back again. 

Come, have they ? How many ? ** 

The major did n’t say, sah. Er reckon 
he don’t know, for they war n’t in sight 
when I left.” 

‘‘ How ’d he know they have come, 
then ? ” asked the general, irritably. 

^‘The frogs stopped their pipin’, sah,” 
was the unexpected answer, in all serious- 
ness. Two or three other officers who were 
endeavouring to keep dry, or at least not 
too wet, under a hasty bark shelter near 
broke into a laugh ; but the general 
frowned. 

Is that all your message ? ” he asked 
sarcastically. 

No, Gineral” — the orderly replied, 
respectfully. The major said as I was 
to tell yo’ that the water ’s gone down six 
inches since he took the post, an’ that ’s 
quick failin’. By to-morrow mornin’ the 
channel between us an’ whar the bar bends 
up-stream won’t be so deep by quite a 
little; knowin’ which mebbe yo’ ’d think 
best ter send down a few mo’ men.” 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAn’s. 41 

That 's the worst of these militia- 
men ! ” burst out the general, testily, to his 
listening staff. They 've run so many 
times that when a frog stops croaking they 
begin to look over their shoulders to see 
if the road behind is clear. And then 
General Greene expects me to hold back 
Cornwallis’s legions with just eight hundred 
of such men.” 

The messenger stared a moment. Then 
his eyes narrowed and a tinge of irony was 
evident enough in his voice, while his 
mien was decidedly lacking in military 
respect. 

Yas, sah. I ’m a militia-man. I fit 
under the major ag’in’ Tarleton time that 
Gineral Davidson and some more militia- 
men went off home ’cos of a dodrotted 
Injun scare that did n’t amount ter shucks. 
’N’ I helped ter whip Tarleton, bein’ just 
a militia-man. But ther major ’s a reg’lar, 
an’ has been one since the war began. He 
started as a private, too. So now he ’s 
a-waitin’ fer orders.” 

If the general had not been in such a 
strait-jacket at the moment it might 


42 


ON GUAKD. 


have gone hard with that messenger, for 
the stern soldier’s first impulse was to 
wipe the offender off the face of the earth, 
and his muscles leaped spontaneously to 
do it. As a result the human chrysalis 
wiggled a little from end to end, then 
stopped suddenly and a pallor crept across 
the thin face beneath its tan. An aide 
sprang quickly to his side as the officer 
gasped and lay quite silent for a minute 
or two. Then the latter looked up and 
said quietly : 

That ’s the worst of having a bullet 
through one. It ’s not only like a jab from 
a red-hot ramrod at the time, but it keeps 
reminding you of its existence at incon- 
venient times afterward. I suppose I shall 
feel it as long as I live. 

But the major is right. Captain Lud- 
low, take your company and report to 
Major Schuyler for orders. At the same 
time, pass the word along above and below 
to light the false watchfires, and stand 
ready for the call to arms, but bid the 
men keep out of sight.” 

He stopped as an uncontrollable shudder 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAN’s. 43 

swept over him. The aide proffered a flask 
but it was refused. 

Nev — never mind. It'll pass. It'll 
pass. And I must keep my brain clear for 
the coming battle. That is all, Captain. 
You have your orders." 

Miles away southerly, an animated con- 
ference was going on between half a score 
of military chieftains and one of less degree. 
The news which the latter had brought was 
unpleasant. 

You say, Lef tenant, that you went for- 
ward with the scouts quite to the brink of 
the river and saw no rebels ? " 

That is so, my lord. But I do not say 
that they were not there. The opposite 
shore was dim and indistinct, and we made 
no noise. It seemed advisable to see and 
not be seen." 

How was the water ? " 

High, my lord." 

Did you try the ford ? " 

We did not. General. To do so would 
have betrayed our presence to any watchers ; 
it was light enough for that. But we could 


44 


ON GUARD. 


see the flood-mark on the snags near by, 
and the water was not a foot below the 
highest mark ; moreover, it rose perceptibly 
while we were there. But the rain has 
stopped, now for some hours, and our guide 
who knows the country says that the water 
will go down at once.’' 

‘‘Come, that is better! You hear, Web- 
ster ? This will give time for a feint and 
you are the man for it. We can allow 
you some hours while the water is falling. 
Leftenant, I believe you generally keep 
your eyes open ; do you think any of the 
scouts know of another ford, either above 
or below, which would be suitable ? ” 

“ I know they do, in a general way, my 
lord ; for I heard several of them disputing 
as to its distance.” 

“ Hunt them up at once and bring them 
here.” 

And in consequence of this order, when 
Lord Egerton again presented himself with 
quite half of Smallhorn’s tories, the latter 
found themselves presently leading a con- 
siderable section of the little army, with 
plenty of noise and loud commands en route 


THE KOAD TO McGOWAn’s. 45 

for Beattie’s Ford. Then the main body 
after a long wait took up their wet and 
weary tramp for McGowan’s, unheralded 
by either fife or drum. Nor did it occur to 
either the earl or to Lord Egerton to ask 
if the remaining scouts were all perfectly 
familiar with the latter crossing. Yet on 
such small matters sometimes the fates of 
battles turn ! 

Cornwallis called Lord Egerton to him 
as the column started, and questioned him 
further. He was acquiring considerable 
respect for the young fellow’s aptitude for 
his profession. What he knew he knew. 
When asked to guess he made guesses that 
at all events showed close reasoning and 
keen observation. As the earl himself had 
said, he seemed to keep his eyes open,” 
and presently the commander-in-chief, sink- 
ing the military for the moment and as 
between gentlemen, playfully made some 
comment about it. 

It is mainly practice, my lord, I find,” 
was the modest answer. What Smallhorn 
can see I ought to be able to learn to see ; 
but I ’m not sure that I should care for the 


46 


ON GUARD. 


practice necessary to reach his standard. 
Now there is a young rebel officer whom I 
met once under a flag of truce — 

“ You mean that young lad Schuyler, 
Colonel Tarleton’s hete noir?^' 

The same, sir ; it was simply startling 
to see how on the alert he was even at a 
time of peace like that. When he did not 
need to look one in the face his eyes were 
so restless that you felt certain absolutely 
nothing escaped them. When he did meet 
your own eyes his were steady enough, but, 
somehow, I had the feeling that just then 
his ears were doing extra duty. There 
seemed no such thing as to take such a 
man off his guard ; but to reach that point 
must take a terrible schooling in being 
hunted.” 

No doubt; no doubt. We soldiers in 
civilized countries do not get that training ; 
and it is as well that we can command the 
services of provincials to do our scouting 
for us until we can get where we can go in 
with the bayonet. Then it is our turn and 
our training that wins. I suppose you 
did not learn the nature of the ford at 
McGowan's ? ” 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAN’S. 47 

It is a broad river, my lord ; I should 
say the other shore is at least a long gun- 
shot distant. Are you thinking of cross- 
ing it in the night, may I ask ? 

Certainly. It could not be done at all 
by daylight, if well defended.” 

From what I learned from the scouts it 
is not easy crossing at best, for the shallows 
bend sharply up-stream near the farther 
side, which will give them an enfilading 
fire that will make havoc.” 

If the enemy are there — although I 
trust Colonel Webster’s feint will draw them 
elsewhere — we must make it with a rush 
and a cheer. Men constantly chased get 
demoralized by noise, and your shifty-eyed 
friend’s nerves will be jumping so that he 
and those like him will take poor enough 
aim.” 

Heaven keep him and all like him 
miles away ! ” ejaculated the young lieu- 
tenant as to himself, fervently. 

Evidently you do not have faith in that 
judgment. Lord Egerton,” laughed the 
general, lifting his horse gently as it slightly 
stumbled in the muddy path. But yonder 


48 


ON GUARD. 


is the river, if I mistake not. Kide for- 
ward, my lord, and remind them again of 
the orders for silence.’' 

The young officer saluted and lifted his 
face for the first time for several minutes 
northward ; then checked his horse so sud- 
denly that it reared. What was that 
luminous haze wavering above the treetops 
in the advance and making them distinct, 
though faintly silhouetted ? Surely he had 
seen such a light before, when scouting in 
pursuit of Morgan, before the Cowpens, and 
circumstances made him not likely to for- 
get it. 

General ! ” he said in an emphatic 
whisper, the ford is guarded ! ” 
^^What!” 

Yonder lies the glow of watchfires, sir.” 
It was too true ; and closing his lips 
sternly, the general gave himself over to 
silent consideration of this new problem. 
It must be settled soon, their line of action. 
The river was not far ; and in the darkness 
his eyes sought for a moment the forms of 
his trusty chiefs, O’Hara and Leslie ; for 
Webster by this time was far away. 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAN’s. 49 

Faith, an’ it ’s very kind of the rebels 
to give us light to cross by,” was the in- 
stant response from one of them to the 
mute question. The wadin’ will be 
asier.” 

No doubt,” came the other’s cautious 
supplement, ^^some of us will get over. 
Good shooting is vara uncommon after 
dark.” 

Right, gentlemen, both of you. We 
must hold our fire and go in with the bayo- 
net. The troops do not live who can stand 
against that in British hands. Let Lef- 
tenant-Colonel Hall and the Guards lead, 
and the rest of the platoons follow, sup- 
porting each other’s steps. But make the 
advance quietly. The farther we get be- 
fore discovery the shorter time will we be 
under fire. See to it, gentlemen ! Lord 
Egerton, you will remain with me. I may 
need you later.” And into the night toward 
their respective commands rode the others, 
each, for the moment, silent with his 
thoughts. 

They found the vanguard halted at the 
river’s brink. Long paths of radiance 


50 


ON GUAED. 


wimpled and zigzagged like fiery ser- 
pents from the farther shore to the sedge 
beneath their feet, each starting from a 
distant, blazing logheap full five hundred 
yards away. All up and down the low shore 
stretched that line of fire. An army would 
need less for camping ; and no one among 
the waiting men had the hardihood to jest 
just then. It was the unknown that sobered 
them. Perhaps it would be better to wait 
till daylight ? It was past midnight 
already. 

Biit there came a low rustling, hissing 
sound among the trees, and the night wind 
sighed and breathed coldly on their faces ; 
then came spats of chilling drops of rain. 
Cornwallis knew well what that meant in 
that country. The river already was high 
enough and needed little to make it im- 
passable. 

At the whispered command, the vanguard, 
already well taught in its work ahead, 
entered the dark river, the men holding 
their ammunition shoulder high as the black 
water swirled sullenly around their thighs. 
Black, also, gloomed the distant bank be- 


THE ROAD TO McGOWAn’s. 51 

tween and below the fires in a huge, shape- 
less shadow, vast with formless terror; 
for who could say that at any moment the 
dusky outline beyond the band of river- 
light might not be illumined with the 
glare of cannon shot? Yet steadily the 
men marched on. 


CHAPTER V. 


HOW STUART SCHUYLER WARMLY WEL- 
COMED LORD CORNWALLIS. 

H OW cold that water was ! If one 
could only plunge in and have it 
over with at one splash ! But no. When 
a hard thing has to be faced it is chilly com- 
fort to think that if some inconvenient 
person would only remove himself for a 
time an easier way could be found for the 
task without half trying. But that incon- 
venient person never does move, until need 
for motion has passed away. Then, as 
likely as not, he will lazily stroll away, 
perfectly oblivious of having occasioned any 
inconvenience to anybody. Nevertheless, no 
one would class the men who lit yonder fires 
in that category. Their presence, as their 
work, was for a purpose ; the more incon- 
venience they caused, the more that pur- 


SCHUYLER WELCOMES CORNWALLIS. 53 

pose was accomplished ; and already they 
had proved themselves, some of them, to 
be highly accomplished individuals in the 
art of making unhappy certain ones they 
chose to call enemies. 

No ! It was necessary, maddeningly ne- 
cessary, to walk into that water, cold and 
creepy, while it rose by inches. Ankle deep 
one did not mind it. Halfway up the calf 
it reached suggestively upward, still inch 
by inch, to the tender hollow of the knee. 
Then for a space came an inch or two that 
also did not mind it ; then once again the re- 
morseless tide crept upward, still inch by 
inch, and now and then a shuddering gasp 
broke from angry lips as a foot below 
slipped from some rounded boulder and the 
plunge into the hollow raised the tide sud- 
denly to yet warm spots, expectant, and 
yet unprepared. 

The men leaned hard up-stream, mar- 
velling at the force of that arrowy flood 
which swept down so silently, yet with 
that sullen threat of power when it chose 
to exercise it; and who could say when 
it would not choose? A deeper scouring 


54 


ON GUARD. 


of the bottom, only a few scant inches 
deeper, and a great deal would depend on 
whether a man was a swimmer or not. 
Then the river began to have a voice of its 
own, and ever as the column lengthened 
the hoarse murmur of the protesting water 
rose to a stronger tone until it became a 
washing roar above which no low-voiced 
command could well be heard. 

Onward they crept, following the reluctant 
guides who knew but too well that the first 
volley was likely to end their guiding for- 
ever and a day — Judgment Day, and 
whose knowledge of the ford itself might 
be bettered. Then the column quivered, 
and bent sharply up-stream, and Cornwallis, 
able general that he was, from his place 
sent a word of admonition rearward to 
follow the leaders. 

See to it. Lord Egertoni '' he said, with 
a leader’s prescience. Take your stand 
here, and bid them all swerve up-stream 
at this point.” 

Raging in heart, the young aide promptly 
swung his horse out of line and halted. Oh, 
the humiliation of it, to be made a guide- 


SCHUYLER WELCOMES CORNWALLIS. 55 

post when he expected to join in the 
headlong charge which soon must come ! 
Meanwhile, the head of the column went 
on without him, and black were the lines 
of the men against the glare of the fires. 
Yet not a sound had come from the dis- 
tant shore. Could it be but a ruse, those 
flames ? 

But that was not his duty. 

Up-stream ! bear up-stream hard, men, 
from here on. Follow the column ! Wheel 1 
Steady!’’ 

Over and over again, as rank on rank 
came stumbling along more intent on their 
footing than their direction, needing guid- 
ance like children, as their thinking, sol- 
dier-like, they left to be done by others. 

Up-stream 1 bear up-stream 1 — ” 

Leslie’s horses could not breast the cur- 
rent, and began to drift down until they 
lost the bar, and their floundering splash 
sent chilly spray around the ears of the 
nearest footmen. Then angry spurs got in 
their work and — plunge 1 Splash 1 Plunge ! 
The beasts clawed at the rocks with their 
hoofs as they strove to regain their place. 


66 


ON GUARD. 


Surely that sound could be heard by keen 
ears, if any were on that distant shore ! 

It was heard, and promptly came the 
answer, as a deep, stern voice rang out a 
sharp command, and the brink of the bank 
was lined with pale flashes for a moment, 
while through the nearest files plunged 
their flanking hail of lead. Then from the 
distant head of the ford came a clamour 
of many voices and a crashing roar, and 
just overhead swept the hissing whisper 
of the deadly sleet, and from one end of the 
long column to the other came the answer- 
ing roar from a thousand throats ! 

Up in the van the tory scouts to a man 
had ducked under at the first shot. No 
discipline known to them could keep them 
longer to that dangerous duty. The men 
began to fire wildly, yet from below, up- 
ward, as they shot, and with over-loaded 
guns habitually over-shot, their misdirected 
bullets found marks that served as well or 
even better, and the resulting cries kept 
their own courage cheery. They yelled 
again. Down went O’Hara’s horse, carried 
clean off his feet by the clutch of the water, 


SCHUYLER WELCOMES CORNWALLIS. 57 

and rolled completely over his spluttering 
master. 

The general 's killed ! went up the cry. 

The general ’s killed ! ” 

“ Kill your grandmother, ye scamps ! 
came the half-drowned response from the 
stream below. I ’m not aven kilt by the 
murtherin wather. Forrard there, ye sons 
of evil ! dd And the men yelled in eager re- 
sponse and strove to obey. But whither? 
Where were the guides ? Where was the 
ford ? And at the moment as he strove to 
command, the earl felt his horse give a 
plunge forward, sink, then rise with de- 
spairing bravery, and struggle straight on- 
ward, shoreward, swerving from the bar. 
In a second he was shoulder deep. 

Forrard ! ’" Was it the echo of QdHarads 
order ? Was it the spontaneous command 
of half a thousand men gone out of hand 
and each his own leader for the moment as 
the best trained men sometimes will do? 
With one accord the whole line from the 
post where Lord Egerton still stood, to the 
head of the column, as by a single thought 
gave up all idea of ford or footing, and in- 


58 


ON GUARD. 


stead of following the safe and narrow way 
upward that led to Davidson’s ambushed 
strength^ they plunged straight off the bar 
into the deep water and struggled toward 
the shore. 

Clear above the yells of the men and the 
crash of the rifles, Lord Egerton on the in- 
stant heard once more the same deep-toned 
voice, once and again, in short, stern orders, 
and then again ; and swift and deadly was 
the fire from that quarter, fatally direct. 
The flashes were but few, yet without a 
falter ; from beginning to end there was no 
break in number, no check in their deadli- 
ness, and as Lord Egerton plunged from his 
now useless post and struggled to reach his 
leader, man after man ahead of him he saw 
drop forward without a word and disappear 
beneath the dark flood sweeping down to 
sea. 

But the men massed on the shore at the 
head of the ford were of different training, 
and their fire grew wild when their foe so 
unexpectedly stepped aside from their well- 
laid trap. In a tumultuous crowd, throngs 
of them streamed down along the edge of 


SCHUYLER WELCOMES CORNWALLIS. 59 

the bank to head off the charging men, and 
stood out black and clear between them and 
the blazing fires, and not one dry musket 
in the ranks still on the bar failed to take 
quick and full advantage of that target. 

Where is Colonel Hall?” 

He ’s down, sir 1 O’Hara leads. They ’re 
running, sir ! they ’re running ! Hurrah ! 
Hurrah ! ” And that yell that has come 
down to us from the far East and the far 
Crusaders’ time, when it meant Kill for 
the King ! ” rang out with the same stern 
meaning now, as the fire before them fal- 
tered and faded almost away. 

Hurrah ! The bayonet ! Give them the 
bayonet !” 

Then came the rush of feet and the 
thunder of horses’ hoofs, as the disheartened 
militia stampeded to their mounts and fied, 
dismayed that their panicky fire had so 
little effect on the resolute column, and 
utterly regardless of the entreaties of their 
raging general. Three hundred against 
thousands ! ” was each man’s thought for 
one second ; then, unused to discipline and 
trust of comrade, it became one against 


60 


ON GUAKD. 


thousands/’ and further fighting madness ; 
and from that it was but a matter of sec- 
onds, only, to — flight. 

Yet, yonder, down by the bend in the bar 
once more that deep-toned voice rose clear 
and stern above the clamour in a single 
order : 

Steady, men ! Steady ! ” 

And from a dozen vantage-points red rifle- 
flashes spurted still, as rapidly as hunter 
fingers could pour into smoking barrel the 
measure of powder, drive the ball home 
with thrust of ramrod, fill the pan with 
finger over the precious grains flowing from 
the curved horn, select their man, and aim ; 
and it was no question now of selecting 
leaders ! what leaders in the van there were 
already were down, and it was a charge of 
men unled, soldiers true, seizing on the one 
thing for each to do, and doing it. Already 
their bayonets were nearly at the throats 
of those devoted riflemen, yet not a man 
among them wavered. 

Back, Major ! ” came a voice from the 
rear. ^^Save your men while you can. 
The militia have deserted us!” 


SCHUYLER WELCOMES CORNWALLIS. 61 

It was the general, Davidson, who spoke, 
facing the bitter facts and his own duty ; 
and at the word Stuart Schuyler lowered 
his rifle from his shoulder, turned his 
powder-stained face toward his commander, 
and saluted with soldierly precision. Then 
sweet and clear rose the note of his hunt- 
ing-horn above the wild turmoil of the 
fading battle. 

It was time, indeed ! Over the verge of 
the bank itself a hundred points of steel 
were gleaming, as the order reached the ears 
of that scant score of men who were left. 
With a wheel, a spring, a rush into the 
blackness rearward, and even as the troops 
poured in angry flood over the bank, came 
the thud of the horses’ feet. 

Halt ! ” cried the major, suddenly, and 
the men obediently threw themselves back- 
ward, while the earth was ploughed for 
yards by the braced hoofs of their horses at 
the word. Where ’s the general ? ” 

There was a deathly silence, broken only 
by the distant large hum of many voices 
and far-away cheers. Then Ike Yocum, 
the mountaineer, said, mournfully: 


62 


ON GUARD. 


I thought yo’ saw, Major, hut I remem- 
ber now we-uns war between yo’ an’ the 
gineral. Arter he gin yo^ the order to re- 
treat he jumped for his boss ; an’ jist as he 
war a-mountin’ a redcoat came over the 
bank, caught sight o’ him an’ let drive, an’ 
the gineral jist put his hand up to his 
breast, so, an’ dropped under his boss’s feet 
without a word. Er reckon he ’s daid.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


HOW SILAS TUENIPSEED PLAYED THE 
PART OF CONSOLER. 

W HAT was of that night of Feb- 

ruary was about the darkest that 
Stuart Schuyler had ever known. Darker, 
it was, than any misty blackness that fell 
around him while walking his lonely post 
on picket duty in the Jerseys. Darker than 
the night on shipboard, sailing south when, 
unknown as a rebel to all around him, he 
quieted the scared horse, Tartar — Tarle- 
ton’s then — while a rebel privateer thun- 
dered but a gunshot off to windward and 
wrapped them in a smother of her smoke, 
as she bored the stout sides of the troop- 
ship with her deadly guns. 

It was not defeat that made it dark. It 
was not the retreat from the victorious 
foe. Parthian fighting had been his lot 
for many a day and night, under General 


64 


ON GUARD. 


George Washington in the North, under 
Colonel William Washington in the South. 
It was not the loss of a tried and well-loved 
friend — he had met his general barely once 
or twice before the fight, and then but for 
a brief official moment. 

The rough, faithful men who had stood 
by him so sturdily plodded along on their 
horses, picking their way through the 
hissing rain along the wet and boggy road 
with scarce a word. They also felt the 
gloom, even to Gavin Paynt, whom hither- 
to neither prospective death nor present 
capture had seemed to subdue ; and finally 
the latter was moved to voice a protest. 

Hit sho’ly war n’t our fault, Cap’n — 
Major,” he ventured. ^^We-uns stuck ter 
the post till the gineral ordered us himself 
ter git out er thar right smart. Then he 
war doin’ of his duty seein’ that we started. 
He was the very last man ter jump fer his 
hoss, an’ so lost his chance o’ bein’ picked 
up when he went down. We-all could n’t 
help that, nohow.” 

But Stuart shook his head, unseen, in the 
night. 


SILAS TUKNIPSEED. 


65 


I cannot agree, Gavin. If we had 
charged back to the rescue they would have 
been so surprised at the sudden face about 
that they would have shrunk backward 
from us and given us a chance to save him.’' 

Now, Major, jist listen a minute,” cut 
in Silas Turnipseed, taking the privilege of 
a veteran to interpose. “ Of co’se that 
mought ’a’ happened, I know, ’cos it ^s 
been done an’ yo’ ’ve done it. But when 
yo’ an’ Tartar went a-skimmin’ like a 
hawk across that savanna an’ picked red- 
headed Rube Yadkin from right under 
Tarleton’s paw. Rube was a live man an’ a 
kickin’ un. I won’t say as he war n’t good 
enough ter be wuth ther risk, seein’ as he ’s 
right yere now, and stuck like pitch ter the 
fightin’ with the best of us. But ther gin- 
eral dropped jist like a log. Hit would ’a’ 
been jist so much dead weight ter carry. 
Hit would ’a’ taken somewhar nigh half a 
minute, sho’, ter lay ’im across a saddle. 
Them men on the bar had us right between 
them an’ the fire — good, squar’ black marks 
we war ! They war a-firin’ mighty evil 
at we-uns, over the heads of their men in 

5 


66 


ON GUARD. 


the water between. That ’s how the gineral 
kirn ter be hit, an’ ’t ain’t likely that we- 
uns would ’a’ got oE with ’im without a 
losin’ some good live men a-doin’ of it. 
Now, I jist want ter put it ter yo’ fa’r an’ 
squar’. Major, knowin’ as we all do that 
yo’ don’t never throw good men away — 
is n’t it wuth mo’ ter the ken try that we- 
all are here, ready an’ willin’ ter fight like 
wil’ cats fer it next time, than ’t would be 
if we had ther daid gineral here, a-swopped 
off fer two or three of we-uns gone daid ? ” 

There was silence for a moment in the 
group. A gust of rain swept through it 
athwart the night. It must have been 
rain, for the men’s cheeks were wet, and 
they were men whose faces were powder- 
blackened, who wore fringed hunting-shirts 
over their faithful hearts, whose brows 
were shadowed by uncouth, home-made 
caps of fur. What but rain could it be ? 
What but its chill that sent a tremble into 
their rough voices ? 

Then came the voice of their leader 
from the darkness. 

Reason tells me that you are right, 


SILAS TURNIPSEED. 


67 


men, both ; and I thank you. But honour 
tells me a different story. Certainly I 
ought not to have sent you back on such 
an errand if the chances were not with you ; 
but one man by sheer audacity sonietimes 
can do what ten cannot.’' 

Then Silas Turnipseed shook off his diffi- 
dence and said even what was given to him 
to say in that dark hour. 

An’ s’pose this time they got yo’, 
Major — they are bound to some time, yo’ 
take so many sich risks — s’pose they do ! 
Thar ’s some pretty good men right yere. 
Thar’s some half-good uns miles ahead 
a-waitin’ fer us somewhar — most likely at 
Terrant’s Tavern ; fer they ’d be hard 
pushed indeed ter pass that — but nary a 
leader among ’em. What then ? This sort 
o’ business is jist like a muskrat’s tooth. 
Thar ’s a lot o’ soft stuff at the back, militia 
an’ sich, that wears off right smart quick. 
An’ that leaves a chisel-like, cuttin’ aidge 
keener ’n steel ; the only trouble bein’ that 
it ’s narrower ’n we ’d like. But, wide or 
narrer, it kinder s’ prises the Britishers all 
the same, every time they run ag’in’ it ; an’ 


68 


ON GUARD. 


er reckon yo’ ’re the very aidge o’ that aidge, 
Major, round yere.” 

And with that, presently it seemed as 
though the night was growing lighter, and 
in due time there came the dawning of 
another day and the swift progress of winter 
time. 

Suddenly enough, about noon, with 
practically no warning, they found them- 
selves among a medley of riderless horses, 
haltered here and there before a tavern. 
The building was overflowing with men, 
hundreds of them, and the air was humming 
with talk of all sorts. Stuart knit his 
brows, awake instantly to duty. To his 
men he seemed tireless. But he did not 
tell them how much he needed rest, when 
work remained to be done. As to the 
work in hand — where were the sentinels ? 
Here it was mid-day, and the horses loomed 
up misty and wet, each enveloped in a 
cloud of steam of its own making ; but no 
guard stood ready to challenge. With a 
swift glance or two around, Stuart turned, 
in his saddle and gazed back fixedly from 
whence they had come. 


SILAS TURNIPSEED. 


69 


Turnipseed/' he said suddenly, ‘^you 
are an old hunter, and can stand wet. 
Ride back to the turn of the road and keep 
just the sharpest kind of an eye out toward 
the rear. Cornwallis will have Tarleton 
at our heels if he is the man I take him to 
be. There ’s a long outlook from that turn, 
I think. If you see the enemy, don’t wait 
to bring word, but wave your cap. Yocum, 
you stand here where you’ll be sheltered 
from the rain, and don’t take your eyes 
off Silas for a moment. Gavin, come with 
me ! The rest of you dismount and 
halter.” 

Without a word and hardly a glance at 
the warm comfort of the tavern interior, 
Silas Turnipseed promptly saluted, wheeled 
his unwilling horse, and splashed away to the 
turn of the road at a smart lope, saying only 
to himself with a certain grim amusement. 
The major ’s the aidge, sho’ enough, but 
’pears like jist now I ’m the raw aidge, sort 
o’.” He gave one glance backward, but 
the rest of the troop had disappeared, 
save Yocum, and, with a shrug he sought 
the partial shelter of a friendly tree-trunk, 


70 


ON GUARD. 


and gave himself np to his lonely vigil. 
Wet or dry, orders must be obeyed. 

Presently he became aware of approach- 
ing hoofs, and lo ! to him appeared Gavin 
Paynt, riding like the born Southerner that 
he was, swaying gracefully with the motion 
of his horse as he bore in hand some object 
with extraordinary care, an object appar- 
ently hot and steaming. 

Gorry ! what ’s that, Gavin ? hot flip ? 

Better ’n that 'er reckon,” replied the 
grinning Ganymede. Hit ’s ven’son stew, 
oy ther smell. ’T was all hot on the fiah, 
jist ready done, an’ half a dozen hungry 
fellers hoverin’ ’round it, watchin’. The 
major sizes it up in jist one wink, an’ grabs 
the two biggest mugs in the bar — an’ 
they were busters ! He scoops ’em both 
full without a word ter the kittle-holders. 
‘ Here, Gavin,’ says he, ^ take these ter the 
sentinels ; ’ which I did. Hyar ’s your ’n. 
Ain’t that mug a beauty?” 

The major is ! ” said Silas, fervently. 
^^God bless him! Watch out down the 
road while I swaller . . . er-rum 1 ha 1 
hit’s mortal hot! Take some.” Which 
Gavin did with joyful alacrity. 


SILAS TUKNIPSEED. 


71 


Meanwhile, back in the tavern after his 
high-handed appropriation of the soup for 
the sentinels, not before — a characteristic 
bit of partisan wisdom not unknown to for- 
agers at any time — Stuart asked abruptly 
of the group before him, Who is in 
command here ? ’’ 

After a pause one said sheepishly, Er 
reckon yo’ are, now. Major. Thar ain’t no 
higher ranker yere.” 

Therefore without delay Stuart requisi- 
tioned from the innkeeper an inkhorn and 
a quill, with which the host had kept his 
spluttering accounts ; and amid the talk 
and bustle around him he penned a note 
to his general on a dry leaf from his 
pocketbook. 

As a note it was of the briefest, telling 
simply that the British had forced the 
passage with but little loss, that the general 
had been shot and was in their hands, and 
three hundred of the dispersed militia had 
come together at Terrant’s Tavern, where 
he had assumed command, awaiting orders. 
News like that needed few lines to tell ; nor • 
did they take long to write. But the 


0 


72 


ON GUAKD. 


penning of them seemed to write lines into 
the still youthful face of the officer that 
were not there before, and that were 
strangely slow to vanish, if indeed they 
were ever to disappear. 

Setting his teeth grimly, the major rose 
and looked around him, found his man in 
a moment, and said to him, in a low tone : 

Yadkin, General Greene must be in- 
formed of this as soon as possible and by 
a trusty hand. But just where in the rear 
he is at this moment is a problem. Is your 
horse fresh enough for the ride, and you ? ” 

‘‘ Fresh enough fer that er reckon. 
Major,’' said the red-headed frontiersman, 
saluting. We ’ll tote it right smart, an’ 
I kin tell ’im mo’ than yo’ kin find paper 
ter write ’im if thar ’s anything he wants 
ter know.” 

In a moment the sound of his horse was 
heard, going at a gallop along the muddy 
road in his search for the general, whom he 
was not to find till the midnight hour was 
past. A very few brief minutes later Ike 
Yocum slipped into the room and nodded 
to Stuart, saying quietly : 


SILAS TURNIPSEED. 


73 


^‘They ’re cornin’.” 

Instantly the major’s horn was at his lips, 
and the well-known note of warning echoed 
through the rooms. With a shout and a 
rush the men dropped everything but their 
weapons, and sprang for their plunging 
horses. A ten seconds’ strife with leaping 
and startled steeds, then even as the men 
rose into saddle there came the rush and 
thunder of the head of Tarleton’s van. Yet 
in that brief space, just as when a grim 
black bear is at bay the oldest hounds 
gather in, shoulder to shoulder on either 
side of the sternest fighter of them all, and 
stand for a breath with snarling gleam of 
teeth to gather strength for the deadly 
plunge, so in that roadway Gavin, Yadkin, 
Turnipseed, and a score of others like them 
had flung themselves toward the coming 
danger, with Stuart in their midst ; they, 
.‘^the cutting edge” of the little army, 
ready to give one more surprise to their 
incautious foe. 

No word was given ; but when Stuart’s 
rifle flew to his shoulder theirs were but a 
breath behind ; and when the smoke of the 


74 


ON GUARD. 


leaping volley rose from the damp air, 
there in a line lay twelve motionless 
men and fifteen horses in a wall, over 
which the more fortunate rear riders 
were plunging headlong till the way was 
blocked. Then like a whirlwind the entire 
troop of continentals swept up the road 
with a gusty roar like surf on a stony 
strand, leaving behind them staring perhaps 
half a score of aged countrymen, stable- 
boys and other helpers, who had been carried 
like leaves in the current of the resistless 
rush of men, and now were as leaves 
stranded in an eddy. Then into that un- 
armed group suddenly came the foremost 
of Tarleton's men remaining from that 
volley, and their sabres were red when 
they sheathed them, and old men and boys 
alike lay dead upon the sward. Some one 
must be sacrificed to the god of war, and 
they were rebels all, in British eyes, just 
then. 


CHAPTER VII. 


LORD CORNWALLIS HAS IDEAS TO EXPLAIN 
ON SOME WAR MATTERS. 

N othing could be better, gentle- 
men ! said Lord Cornwallis to his 
staff, with a broad smile on his genial face, 
as they breakfasted under a fly that 
morning, well on their way northward 
after the midnight fight. 

Much depends on the point of view in 
such matters, thought Lord Egerton, half- 
humorously, as he strove to keep his sleepy 
eyes open long enough to tell the difference 
between hard bread and hard bacon before 
biting. Incidentally, to comfort the thirsty 
there was the steady drip-drip-drip of the 
rain that poured down the hollows of the 
canvas and spouted from the puckered 
edges along the skyline. Now and then a 
big drop gathered on the underside and 
came down as the rain of heaven falls, on the 
just and the unjust, be his name Cornwallis 


76 


ON GUARD. 


or Tarleton, the latter officer, however, 
being far from there, and getting the rain 
direct without benefit of canvas. 

Lord Egerton was sleepy, to say the 
least. All day on the march, half the 
night fighting, — either getting ready, at 
it, or subsiding from the keyed-up nerve- 
strain, had now given him more than a 
nodding acquaintance with Somnus. How- 
ever, as in duty bound, he aroused himself 
enough to give attention to the words 
of wisdom so plentiful that morning. As 
for Lord Cornwallis, all-night vigils evi- 
dently did not trouble his war-seasoned 
frame. It was his business as a tried 
leader to watch over the safety of others. 

It seems, my lord, that you had rather 
an easy time of it,’’ observed Colonel Web- 
ster, pausing while a negro servant replen- 
ished his plate. This can hardly be the 
whole of Mr. Greene’s army, I suppose ? ” 

Oh, no — otherwise our work would 
have been harder by far. In fact it was 
only a strong skirmish line on their part 
that did the actual fighting, and you at 
Beattie’s had even less, I believe.” 


LORD Cornwallis’s ideas. 77 

None at all, sir ; only the night march. 
I am not even sure that we helped you a 
particle by that.” 

Oh, yes, I think so,” remarked the earl, 
reflectively. Of course a picket guard 
would decamp at once ; and the knowledge 
that an unknown force is coming swiftly 
for your flank is exceedingly demoralizing to 
a soldier of any degree of training. From 
the suddenness of our opponents’ departure 
I fancy that news of you had reached them 
as we had planned it, simultaneously with 
our own advance. It is a great game — 
war ! and to know when to ^ castle ’ to 
the best advantage counts for much. It 
takes the fight out of the stubbornest set of 
pawns that ever fronted a battle-line upon 
the board,” and the earl smiled benignantly. 
It pleased him to see the energy with which 
his official family was attacking the some- 
what scant array of rations. In his career 
as a soldier he had known worse. 

‘‘1 see some faces are absent,” said Colonel 
Webster, presently. I hope — ” he broke 
o£E here, his inquiring look sufficing. 

Yes, O’Hara and Tarleton are hard at 


78 


ON GUARD. 


the rebel heels with foot and horse. Poor 
Hall is gone. I think he went down at 
the first real fire — the blind volley of the 
frightened militia not counted. It is a sad 
loss — a sad loss. But it is part of a 
soldier’s duty to die for his king. The 
friends of the officer we found on the bank 
do not have even that consolation.” 

Lord Egerton awoke from a doze and 
looked up with a startled air. It is not 
given even to an aide-de-camp to be every- 
where at once, nor to learn all that happens, 
when it happens, and here was something 
new. 

Pardon me, my lord,” he ventured to 
ask, did I understand you to say that we 
had killed one of their officers ? ” 

Yes, Lef tenant — but probably a stranger 
to you. The loyalists tell me it was their 
general, Davidson, not the young rebel in 
whom you are interested.” 

They must have been hard pressed in- 
deed to have left his body as you say they 
did,” observed Colonel Webster, resuming his 
attack on the food before him. That is 
very bad conduct even for militia-men.” 


LORD Cornwallis’s ideas. 79 

It would seem so, certainly. If they 
had been panic-stricken I could understand 
it, but the troop in front of us there fought 
to the bitter end. But I must retract what 
I said last evening, Leftenant, about night- 
fighting. If that deep-toned voice we heard 
was that of your rebel friend, next time I 
shall echo your words, ‘ Heaven keep far 
away him and all like him ! ’ If the rest of 
their array had stood to their work in his 
fashion, I fear we should not be breakfast- 
ing here on the track of a retreating host, 
be it large or small. Considering how few 
they were, and the time it takes to load a 
rifle, he and his men did more damage in 
that short time than I like to recall. Still, 
that makes all the more inexplicable their 
final conduct.” 

Well, sir ! ” said the lieutenant, with 
some determination, it was my fortune 
to chase him in Colonel Tarleton’s company, 
as you know, and it was hammer and anvil 
like that, about all the way. They did not 
miss one chance for a stand, nor did they 
lose many men, to our knowledge. Why, 
that very fellow came back like an Arab 


80 


ON GUARD. 


and picked up a wounded man and carried 
him off to safety with his horse on a dead 
run, right in the colonel’s face. A man 
like that would hardly desert his general. 
It seems to me more likely that the offi- 
cer was killed by some stray shot unnoticed 
in the night. I was not in the van, but 
from my post it seemed to me that the rifle 
flashes lasted until our men actually were 
swarming up the bank, when retreating or 
dying had become a matter of seconds.” 

Yes, that is true ; ” and the earl looked 
somewhat curiously at the young officer. 
“ Very likely, as you imply, there was really 
no opportunity for the men who were with- 
standing us to learn their loss in time to do 
their duty. But it is time that we turned 
to ours. Colonel Webster, are your men 
sufficiently rested for another march?” 

I would gladly give them half an hour 
more, sir, if it may be had. I believe it 
would be saved by their more rapid 
progress.” 

^^We know that this is not their main 
force — that, I am told by our loyalist 
friends, is under Mr. Huger, and marching 


LORD Cornwallis’s ideas. 81 

rapidly for Salisbury. My plan is to take 
the great post road direct for that place, 
and reach it if possible before the enemy 
can cross the Yadkin. These rains that 
make torrents of the rivers and floods of 
the roads must be even worse for them 
than for us. I remember that in the North 
we could tell their footsteps from ours by 
the bloodstains in the snow, and Mr. Greene’s 
men are not much better shod. If once 
we can bring our quarry to bay with a deep 
river at his back, as Tarleton did, we will 
wipe out that mistake by a decisive victory. 

If we cannot overtake them so deci- 
sively, we still shall have attained a valu- 
able end by chasing him clear out of the 
Carolinas. That alone will be worth to us 
nearly as much as a battle, for it will 
enable our weak-kneed friends in our rear 
to take heart of grace once more and come 
out boldly for their king. Already I am 
hearing of good results that are following 
our chase. Supplies are coming in, and 
the tone of the country people is distinctly 
more friendly.” 

I hardly think, sir, that these can be 
6 


82 


ON GUARD. 


Morgan’s men with whom we have been 
fighting/’ observed the lieutenant, a little 
diffidently. 

No, probably not. You had ample op- 
portunity to measure their calibre,” and the 
earl smiled somewhat sadly as he thought 
how much he now needed the stout-hearted 
light troops that had so swiftly kept the 
trail of their enemy until they found him 
at the Cowpens. It is probable that Mr. 
Greene, having accomplished his object by 
a division of forces, is now seeking to re- 
unite them. I look yet to finding them 
converged and in battle array. But, gen- 
tlemen, we cannot spare more time to the 
men,” and he rose from his seat, once more 
the general. 

A long day’s march northward, at that 
same moment a young man who looked 
desperately weary, mounted on a black 
horse of powerful build, yet also weary, 
rode straight into a tavern stable at Salis- 
bury. Beckoning to a slave, the rider 
silently held before his shining eyes the 
single piece of money that he had about 
him, and pointed to the horse from which 


LOED coKNW A llis’s ideas. 83 

he had dismounted. Great is the power of 
money ! In a twinkling Tartar’s saddle 
was stripped off, his bridle unloosed, and 
he himself was luxuriating in all the deli- 
ciousness of a most scientific equine mas- 
sage, sweet to tired muscles while he nosed 
like a hungry epicure among the unexpected 
luxuries of a freshly appointed feed box. 
Then, with a curt promise to the slave that 
the size of the promised donation would 
depend on Tartar’s report of himself when 
next they met — at which the dark eyes 
rolled somewhat anxiously in Tartar’s direc- 
tion, as though the miracle of Balaam was 
at once expected — the rider stumped his 
way stiff-legged into the tavern. 

It was before breakfast for him. It was 
after breakfast for General Greene before 
whom the cavalryman presented himself, 
standing at attention . There was no glitter- 
ing staff in attendance on the patriot gen- 
eral. He was not surrounded by colonels 
and lieutenant-colonels. Only his friend. 
Dr. Bead, had shared his lonely meal un- 
der the anxious eye of Mrs. Steele, the 
warm-hearted landlady. As he scanned the 


84 


ON GUARD, 


stern young face before him, white under 
all its weather-bronze, silently awaiting 
comment or order, was he thinking of the 
long-drawn rear-guard battling from tory- 
haunted Ninety-Six to the Cowpens ? Was 
he thinking of the lost opportunity at the 
red ford of McGowan’s? Or were his 
thoughts with General Davidson, silent and 
cold on the sleet-pelted bank of the far- 
away Catawba ? 

For a long minute he looked straight 
into eyes that gleamed back at him 
without a waver. Then came the words 
which Stuart Schuyler had been expecting 
to hear. Major Schuyler — I was greatly 
disappointed.” 


CHAPTER VIIL 


HOW THE CONTINENTAL ARMY CROSSED 
THE YADKIN, AND STUART SCHUYLER’S 
SHARE THEREIN. 



^HERE was trouble dire in Salisbury 


X town ; trouble such as none of its 
dwellers thus far had ever known. All 
day long the plodding tramp of men or 
horses at intervals broke with a new note 
into the discords that marred its sleepy 
habit. All day at intervals hurried de- 
tachments of the light troops under Morgan 
filed through the streets, retreating north- 
ward toward the Yadkin; and that broad 
water was a scene of unusual liveliness under 
the watchful eyes of General Greene's most 
experienced aides, some of whom seemed to 
have the ability to be in several places at 
once. There was no rest for biped or 
quadruped on whom their eyes fell. Man 
and mule alike felt the sting of the command 
that met one sign of loitering. 


86 


ON GUARD. 


Prominent among these discouragers of 
hesitancy a certain youthful captain, Tom 
Ludlow by name, gave the experience of 
years of campaigning to the work of accel- 
erating the steps of mules at certain diffi- 
cult parts of the road, especially, and in the 
gaps of passage kept a perspiring force of 
long-limbed men at work laying logs across 
some boggy places, in the corrugated fashion 
known as corduroy to modern soldiering. 
It improved the road slightly — it was 
better to be bumped than to stick fast 
when Tarleton was coming; and it shook 
up the teamsters on the carts until they 
made impolite remarks about everything 
an inch high, the captain by no means 
omitted. Teamsters were prone to do that, 
anyway, cause or no cause ; but the captain 
chose to take it to himself, and personally 
had somewhat to say, brief and to the 
point, and said it. Then there was peace 
until the next team arrived. 

But his special concern lay in the sets of 
broad wheels linked by long centre logs, to 
which were harnessed their best draught 
animals, and on which were lashed with 


HOW THE ARMY CROSSED THE YADKIN. 87 

solicitous hands the wide, flat ferryboats 
which had been gathered from far up and 
down the stream of every river they had 
passed. Let the British ford or swim as 
they saw fit, Greene’s men and powder 
must cross as dry as possible. Hence as 
the vigilant earl encouraged his reluctant 
troops to plunge into the insinuating floods, 
or tarried for a space blocked by some 
stream that had risen for a time too high 
for safety, he comforted himself by the 
reflection that what was delaying him 
here would likewise delay his foes later, to 
make up for the check; and marvelled 
greatly that he could not discover more 
tangible results in this matter of over- 
taking. 

Had he seen the way those same flats 
went surging across the water under the 
impulse of long pike-poles and sturdy 
shoulders, back and forth at their ferrying, 
even his optimism might have felt a dash 
of cold water on it. He might even have 
considered the teamsters justified in their 
opinions of the vigilant aide which they 
exchanged between themselves when safely 


88 


ON GUARD. 


in mid-stream, being conveyed in those 
same flats. But the soldiers then around 
them grinned and shook their sides as they 
squatted, glad of the brief rest, and watched 
the raftsmen at their sinewy work. With 
singular inconsiderateness their sympathies 
were wholly with the captain, and their free 
use of inconvenient questioning drove the 
drivers to the verge of insanity before 
arrival at the landing set them free from 
their tormentors. If there is one thing a 
soldier off duty enjoys to the full it is to 
cover a civilian with a fire of jest, — front, 
flank, and rear. 

But, the corduroy finished, the energetic 
captain turned his command over to an- 
other officer equally indifferent to the com- 
fort of army teamsters, and with a touch of 
the spur sent his horse Salisbury-ward at a 
gallop. He had further orders to execute, 
and it was nearly time. Certain military 
signs — e. g., a sentry hugging a wall that the 
wet from the roof might shoot over him in 
the showers — warned the captain to turn in 
at a large stable, dismount, and to enter its 
dark precincts. 


i 








HOW THE ARMY CROSSED THE YADKIN. 89 

High up among the rafters various swal- 
lows fluttered and clung like bats to the 
timbers, now and then greeting some new 
arrival with a little hover of a flight and a 
sudden medley of shrill cries that filled the 
great space with echoes. 

With cautious foot the captain crossed 
the threshold. All over the floor straw 
was littered, and tired men were sleeping 
as only tired men can sleep, in rank on 
rank, each man, when possible, with the 
flap of a ragged overcoat, or a horse-blanket, 
or a bit of sacking drawn across his head. 
Some had neither, only a wisp of straw. 
Neither the shrilling swallows nor their own 
heavy breathing disturbed their slumbers, 
nor the occasional deep sigh of a comfort- 
able horse in the stalls beyond. Three 
careful steps the captain took, then he trod 
on a loose board which creaked, ever so 
slightly. Like a flash a figure was on its 
feet, and a ready pistol covered the captain’s 
head. 

Oh, it is you, Tom, is it 1 What do ye 
here at this unwelcome hour ? 

Trying to catch a wolf asleep, Stuart,'’ 


90 


ON GUARD. 


was the laughing response. As usual, it 
did n't work. Do you post your ears on 
sentry duty regularly when you are sleep- 
ing, waiting for the countersign — or how 
do you manage it ? Mine go to sleep like 
Christians, when I do." 

They would learn a new drill, in a 
month of rear-guard work," was the low 
response, with a glance at the sleeping men. 

You have a message, I suppose — there 's 
to be more of it ? " 

Yes, I am sorry to say. But are you 
fit for it, Stuart ? Your men are like logs ; 
yet they have n’t had your head-work to 
worry them ! It is enough for them to 
know you’re in command." 

Oh, as to that, I ’ve had a glorious 
rest. Let me see — ye gods ! five full 
hours. No wonder I feel that ^ Richard is 
himself again.’ When did I last have five 
hours straight ? Somnus knows, I don’t." 

Who ’s Richard ? ’’ 

‘^One of Shakespeare’s fellows; never 
mind him. How do matters stand out- 
side ? ’’ 

Well, our little army is about all over, 


HOW THE ARMY CROSSED THE YADKIN. 91 

all but your fellows. But there ’s a regular 
Noah’s ark of refugees from Salisbury 
strung all along the wayto the Yadkin, where 
by this time they have begun to cart over 
their worldly affairs, fleeing from the wrath 
to come — yclept Tarleton,” replied the 
captain, with the irreverence born of three 
years and more of army life. Come, 
and take a look at the caravan. It ’ll make 
you think of the Israelites scudding for the 
Red Sea. Faith, it’ll be a red one if 
Tarleton gets there before they cross ; and 
this time it would n’t be Pharaoh’s men 
that go under.” 

Tom had been out in the thick of the 
work directing and helping to make their 
way easy; and hence by this time could 
see humour in some elements of the flight. 
But on Stuart, as a little later he led his 
rested troop to good vantage ground for a 
reconnoissance southward it struck with 
direct force, and it seemed heart-breaking to 
see the pitiful fear in the faces of the 
women as they hurried toward the north. 
One barefooted lassie tripped her cold way 
along by the side of a creaking cart piled 


92 


ON GUARD. 


high with home-made furniture, crowned 
by a precious treasure — a spinning-wheel, 
dark and weak with age ; and she strove 
hard to stretch a bit of her thin shawl to 
protect from the spats of rain the clum- 
sily carved doll cradled in her arms. How 
earnestly she looked up at Stuart as she 
passed — and what eyes she had ! 

Yo’ dl sho’ly keep him off ’n us, won’t 
yo’ ? ” she said appealingly. No need to 
specify who him ” might be. It was not 
Lord Cornwallis. A strange thrill ran 
over Stuart as he looked down into those 
wistful eyes and endeavoured to say 
cheerily : 

I ’ll sho’ly try ! ” 

Dolly ’s gittin’ wet — but I kain’t holp 
it,” she said, not complainingly, but with 
mournful resignation. 

With a sudden thought Stuart reached 
forward to a holster, and extracting from 
it a dingy bit of cloth which he had saved 
to clean his pistols with, he bent down and 
dropped it over dolly’s face as it stared 
blindly skyward ; and the flash of happiness 
that leaped into the little maid’s eyes as 


HOW THE ARMY CROSSED THE YADKIN. 93 

she looked up at him was wonderful. How 
little it takes to make a child happy ! 
What eyes she had, indeed ! They reminded 
him — 

Something was the matter with his own 
eyes just then, and he turned away abruptly 
to his men. 

Close up, boys ! he said sharply. 

Close up and keep a bright lookout. If 
the British are coming we ’ll see their 
scouts soon ; and in this rain it may come 
to a hand-to-hand matter. Our powder 
must be over-damp. Have you all sabres ? ” 

I hev n’t. Major.” 

Stuart glanced around, and his eye fell on 
a passing cart. 

There ’s a sharp axe yonder, two of 
them. They can spare one. Take it, 
Yocum. Probably you can use it better 
than a sabre if you had one. Keep your 
pistol in your left hand to parry with, save 
your bullet for a last chance, and strike at 
the head of your enemy’s horse with your 
axe — unless you ’ve a better mark — and 
it will serve.” 

Gorry, Major ! ” and the mountaineer’s 


94 


ON GUARD. 


eyes danced as he handled the weapon as 
a slighter man would swing a hatchet — 
this helve jist fits my fist. It ’ll do, er 
reckon.” 

And it did. History — written history 
— cannot spare space for details, or thinks 
it cannot, which results the same. It con- 
tents itself with calmly informing us that 
when O’Hara and Tarleton came up with 
that devoted rear-guard there was a 
spirited fight.” 

And the personal way in which those 
stern-handed men blocked the road and 
rolled back their pursuers as they fought 
for time, it regards as too unimportant to 
the world at large to chronicle. Neverthe- 
less, it was a matter of the utmost impor- 
tance just then, to O’Hara and his men, as 
well as to the fugitives; and when, as a 
result it was with extreme slowness that 
he finally did arrive at the river’s brink, it 
was to find that not only the army but 
every girl and woman of the refugees had 
safely crossed ; that certain uncouth and 
backwoodsy creatures forgot discipline and 
politeness, and from their retreating boats 


HOW THE ARMY CROSSED THE YADKIN. 95 

were making gleeful gestures of disrespect 
and contumely. One even put his hat 
under his armpit and pummelled it with 
his other fist to indicate an opponent with 
his head in chancery '' — sign language 
understood by all Englishmen. It was also 
painfully clear from the horses towed 
by their bridles astern that to follow with- 
out boats was a swimming matter, not to be 
thought of with Tarleton’s weak mounts. 
So the net result of all his hard riding from 
the Catawba to the Yadkin was the capture 
of some half dozen carts laden with cradles, 
washtubs and other items of no earthly use 
to military men ; and when they turned 
back to greet Lord Cornwallis, which looked 
the more dissatisfied with the prizes of life 
just gained it would be hard to say, — 
O’Hara, Tarleton, or the noble earl. 


CHAPTER IX. 


HOW CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET MADE AN 
EARL UNHAPPY. 


ELL, O’Hara?’’ 



T T There was so much chagrin stamped 
all over the countenance of the once jolly 
general that Lord Cornwallis was prepared 
for bad tidings ; and in that he was not 
disappointed. 

These rebels, General, are as web-footed 
as ducks ! There is n’t a soul of thim this 
side of the river ; so there ’s no use of your 
lordship’s hurrying jist now. The water ’s 
too deep for us, entirely. So I jist turned 
back to let you know.” 

Thank you, General. But it is very 
strange, very strange ! We ought to be able 
to cross rivers as easily as Mr. Greene, yet 
floods do not seem to trouble him ! ” 

^^Well, my lord,” the indomitable chief 
replied, as obedient to a sign he turned his 


CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET. 


97 


horse and swung alongside in the march, 
the rebels crossed in boats, for we saw 
thim ; and they had a much larger number 
of thim than could be expected to be kept 
near one ferry ; so ayther they scoured the 
stream above or below, or they brought 
thim along with thim on wheels ; and by 
the looks of the mended roads it is the 
last is the truth I bn thinking.” 

Hum ! ” said the general, reflectively, 
flicking a bit of mud from his gauntlet. 

I had not thought of that ; and if true it 
makes our work the more difficult. It 
accounts, also, for the dearth of boats that 
we have found for our own use. But, cheer 
up, gentlemen ! To drive them is next 
best to catching them, since in either event 
we are clearing a goodly portion of His 
Majesty’s dominions from disturbers of his 
peace. Where did you leave Colonel 
Tarleton ? ” 

With his horse’s forefeet in the mud on 
the river’s brink, while he was looking 
across, as though he would build a bridge 
by the strength of his eyesight. It is 
simply furious, is the leftenant-colonel 
7 


98 


ON GUARD. 


to-day, and muddier than I iver saw 
him.’' 

There was a twinkle in O’Hara’s eye as 
he let his glance run here and there among 
the men in the group of the earl’s staff 
within hearing. It served to calm even 
Cornwallis’s vexation at the most unwel- 
come news, and he unbent from his official 
attitude and looked a friendly inquiry. 

It was that baste of a horse that he 
rides, my lord. It balked at a mud-hole 
widout the least warning, and shot the 
colonel clean over his head. By good luck 
he sent him clear across the mud-hole, too ; 
but it was but little drier where he lit, after 
all.” 

What, Tarleton thrown ? That seems 
almost a fable ! ” 

It does that. But when I left him he 
looked as though he ’d forgive the baste if 
he’d do it again and send him this time 
across the river. We all but caught up 
with the scamps this time, however, and 
next time we may be luckier yet, sir. We 
had a brush with their rear-guard as it was.” 

‘‘ So ! any casualties ? ” 


CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET. 99 

Yes, sir, quite a number on both sides. 
It was a smart little fight for a few moments, 
and checked us complately, which was all 
they wanted. Of course we supposed we 
had run suddenly on the entire rebel army 
when they came at us out of nowhere, each 
man yelling for two, and it was as pretty a 
bit of a Donny brook Fair as I ever happened 
to see for a minute.” 

It sounds odd. General,” remarked his 
comrade. Colonel Webster, who rode near. 

It sounds odd to hear of a mere rear- 
guard checking two men like yourself and 
Tarleton.” 

Well, Colonel dear, if you and your min 
were mounted on horses like rats, and out 
of the mists a swarm of min came a-hurtlin’, 
mounted on iliphants you ’d see your min 
jist rolled over like puppies, av they did n’t 
have sense enough to get out av the way. 
And if you yourself saw coming for you a 
shock-headed savage with an axe like a 
crusader’s, swung one-handed like a black- 
smith at work, it ’s out of the way you ’d 
be gettin’ I ’m thinking, too. Faith of me 
word, I know I ’m three min short because 

Lore. 


100 


ON GUARD. 


of that axe, an’ if I had n’t dodged in the 
nick of time it ’s myself would now be a 
head shorter, too, than is at all con- 
vaynient.” 

Did Tarleton chance to get sight of that 
lost horse of his ? ” 

No. There was none such in that 
command. Probably he was sent over in 
an early boat. There was scant time for 
any looking about for ayther of us, just 
then. But I heard a voice over bey ant my 
left that I can swear to, having heard it by 
that same token the other night when we 
crossed the Catawba. If he was the cattle 
thief I’d like well to meet him in peace 
time. He keeps his min to their work like 
the keystone of an arch. In war time it ’s 
ayqually plazed I ’d be if he ’d go off quietly 
home.” 

He is a bold fellow, there is no doubt 
about that,” said the earl, musingly, but 
we must contrive to subdue his audacity to 
some extent. ’T is a true proverb about the 
pitcher that goes too often to the well, and 
perhaps we can make it apply here. But 
how are the roads. General, ahead?” 


CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET. 101 

^^Much cut up, my lord’’ — and the 
officer instantly became the officer on duty 
again. There are places where we shall 
have to double-team the guns to get them 
up. They were soft enough last night 
when we passed in pursuit to make speed 
difficult, and the rain has made them softer 
yet.” 

It was still early in the day when the 
compact force of British veterans came into 
clear view of the wild river across their 
front. The earl and his staff rode down to 
the water’s edge in advance of the halted 
army, and the leader’s face darkened as he 
measured the distance across with his eye 
and noted the unconcerned way in which 
his foes had gone into camp with hardly a 
pretence of concealment on the other side. 

This is insolence ! ” he muttered, and that 
is one thing which is hard to be endured by 
men of his race. 

Colonel Webster, be good enough to 
have the guns aligned along this bank. 
Lord Egerton, present my compliments to 
the battery commanders, and have the guns 
brought to the van and into battery at once. 


102 


ON GUARD. 


Colonel Tarleton, detail axe-men at once 
to clear away the underbrush there, and 
there, and there, for gun stations. General 
O’Hara, let the rest of the men go into camp 
and rest while they can. Ah, here are the 
guns 1 Thank you, my lord, for your 
promptness. Here is your line, gentlemen 
— see to it. Colonel.” 

And as fast as the toiling teams pantingly 
ploughed their way to their allotted places, 
ready hands seized the muddy spokes and 
helped to swing the guns into action front. 
Then one after another began its thunderous 
song of murder, until all along the river-line 
the full chorus was pealing in an uninter- 
rupted roar that faltered and swelled in 
wavering impulses, yet never wholly ceased. 
And still the rebel forces went on about 
their business, with a maddening unconcern 
that roused their entertainers to the height 
of exasperation. More than one officer 
leaped from his horse and took the oppor- 
tunity to sight a gun, too impatient at the 
scant results to sit idle and see others work. 

Lord Egerton delightedly took his turn, 
and singling out the low roof of a cabin 


CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET. 


103 


that just showed above a distant ledge, he 
expended ball after ball until he got the 
range ; but then, my ! how the clapboards 
flew ! the air was full of flying splinters 
after every shot, and the laughter along the 
southern bank could be heard in the lulls of 
the cannonade, as the other officers clapped 
the lieutenant on the back and made re- 
marks about the value of pheasant shoot- 
ing in the grand paternal covers ” as a prep- 
aration to being able to hit a house in a 
Carolina pasture. 

Nevertheless, in that house just then sat 
a stalwart rebel general diligently writing 
orders, letters, messages, in complete disre- 
gard of the fact that the roof above him 
was rapidly going into a decline as a roof, 
under the malign influence of various dis- 
agreeable people beyond the river which he 
had just crossed, and who took this method 
of expressing their resentment at his ex- 
clusiveness. 

Nevertheless, also, here and there a canny 
British officer shook his head as the use- 
lessness of it all dawned upon him ; and 
therefore, gradually the thunder died away, 


104 


ON GUARD. 


the earl himself becoming convinced that he 
was wasting ammunition. 

‘^It was very pretty practice while it 
lasted, however,” was the general comment, 
while the officers chatted over their lunch. 

What is your opinion, O’Hara, about 
crossing under cover of the guns ? ” 

^‘Not to be thought of,” was the prompt 
reply. ^^’Tis too wide to swim, and we 
have no boats. There ’s no timber here fit 
to make rafts, and in daylight those rebels 
shoot altogether too well for rafting, even 
if we could.” 

Yet it seems to me,” said Colonel 
Webster, with a puzzled expression, ^^it 
seems to me that we ought to be able to do 
it with our equipment, if Alexander could 
do it with his. Does anybody recall his 
method ? ” 

disremember what the divine Sandy 
used to do in such cases. He must have been 
a Scotchman, Leslie. I never knew a Sandy 
that was n’t. How did he manage it ? ” 
Well, man,” said Leslie, cautiously, I 
will not say that Alexander of Macedon ever 
walked through Edinburgh, but there ’s 


CONTINENTAL WEB-FEET. 


105 


plenty of other Alexanders there to this 
day. But I now recall that he just cannily 
planted batteries of catapults and such wee 
bit matters, with some braw men to handle 
them, and when the Persians came down 
to dispute his passage he just smothered 
the whole opposite bank with a cloud of 
heavy javelins that would go through shield 
and breastplate and man to boot. No 
troops in the warld could stand such a fire 
as that. So, under cover of such rapid fire, 
his men easily got a good foothold on the 
other bank of the river. I ’m thinking that 
Alexander was about the first general to do 
that thing on earth.’' 

That ’s it. I remember now. It was at 
the Jaxartes, was n’t it ? But his opponents 
were Scythians, I ’m thinking. Here, Eger- 
ton, you are younger than we are, and 
ought to be fresher in your classics. Am 
I not right ? ” 

believe so. General. And there is 
another point that occurs to me. He used 
to skin his cattle, glove fashion, and blow 
up the skins into big floats for use in rafts. 
Then he ferried his men across on them — 
and ate the cattle.” 


106 


ON GUARD. 


A Scotcliman, sure ! ” said O’Hara, 
solemnly. Such canniness could only be 
inherited. There ’s only one trifling thing 
in the way of our profiting here by his 
example — we haven’t the cattle. I’d 
been wonderin’ where all the good beeves 
of the world had gone, for it ’s long since 
I’ve aten an atable steak. We owe the 
liftenant a vote of thanks for explaining 
it.” 

O’Hara must have his joke,” smiled 
Colonel Webster. ^^But I think I can 
safely say that we shall not stay on this 
spot forever. I see the earl has Smallhorn, 
the scoutmaster, yonder in a conference, and 
that, I have learned, is a forerunner of 
business.” 

As a matter of fact, at that moment the 
loyalist was staring at the earth with a 
dubious frown, and the earl was saying 
emphatically : 

It is of the utmost importance that we 
learn whether Mr. Greene has boats enough 
on the spot for his crossing the River Dan. 
It is only about seventy miles from here.” 


CHAPTER X. 


HOW GENEEAL GREENE WANTED STUART 
SCHUYUER FOR A PERILOUS MISSION. 

M ount your horse, Major, and ride 
with me. I want to have a talk 
with you.’’ 

The young officer who had been standing 
respectfully at ‘^attention ” promptly bridled 
Tartar, cinched up the loosened girths, and 
swung into saddle as lightly as though he 
had not been up half the night on his 
second mount, as one of the eyes of 
the army. When royalty requests, it is 
as potent as a command, and to his 
men General Greene was royalty just then. 
Nevertheless, Stuart felt a quick, strange 
shiver pass over him at the moment. Days 
had flown since they had crossed the 
Yadkin, leaving the assiduous British 
fuming on the other side. It was still 
farther back to the night when Cornwallis 
had forced the passage of the Catawba; 


108 


ON GUARD. 


yet, again the remembrance of the dead 
general flashed into Stuart’s mind, and set 
his face in a sad, stern look, soldierly. 
Once or twice those all-seeing eyes of his 
■ told him that the general was giving him 
a quick, curious glance ; but no line of his 
own face changed in consequence. Still, 
for a time the general kept silence. 

Once he pulled up suddenly, and stared 
reflectively before him. The houses of 
Guilford lay scattered here and there, and 
right before him the Salisbury road stretched 
away southward across a cornfield, in which 
the stubble still stood projecting above the 
muddy soil. It was the most ordinary- 
looking cornfield in the world to all appear- 
ance, not worthy of even one look, let alone 
a second ; yet the general honoured it with 
several, while a rail fence seemed especially 
attractive. 

The militia could take post there,” he 
said, as to himself. It is astonishing how 
they ’ll seek even so slight a barrier. In 
fact, they ’d fight better even behind a fish- 
net than in the open.” (The general was 
from Rhode Island.) Major,” he said. 


A PERILOUS MISSION. 109 

suddenly, what is your opinion of the 
temper of the men ? 

Much as usual, sir, I believe. The men 
of the line are staunch ; the militia not to 
be relied on, as a rule — those who fought 
with me are not fair examples of them, 
being picked men.” 

Being trained men,” corrected the gen- 
eral, heartily. Yes, they fought like vet- 
erans.” And then there came into his 
mind a saying of Morgan’s in regard to this 
same young officer — He never volun- 
teers opinions — yet he has them,” — and 
he asked abruptly, What do you think 
of our situation, Major ? ” 

There was just the slightest pause ; then 
Stuart said : 

We have drawn the enemy nearly out 
of the Carolinas, sir, which is thus far 
good. They believe that they have driven 
us out, which is an undesirable opinion to 
permit them to retain, for it will lead to 
the reappearance of the tories from their 
lairs. If Sumter and Marion, now, are 
alert enough to educate them — ” he 
paused, and the general smiled. 


110 


ON GUAHD. 


good thought, Major. I will tell 
you now that expresses went off to them 
yesterday, and to Pickens and others also. 
I wish we knew just what Cornwallis is 
doing. Ah ! that reminds me ! ’’ and his 
keen eyes were bent searchingly on his 
aide. General Washington once wrote 
me that you solved a similar problem 
regarding Cornwallis for him.^’ 

For a moment Stuart was silent. Also 
he turned a shade paler. Then — I 
understand, General, and will try to get 
the information.’' 

^^It is a dangerous business,” said the 
general, gravely, so dangerous that 1 can- 
not order you to the duty, for you have 
made yourself too well known to those 
people. Yet it is so important a matter 
that we cannot trust to uneducated scouts, 
and you certainly have had wonderful 
fortune in such affairs. It may be that 
you will not have to cross the river — and 
indeed there are no boats left there now.” 

To this Stuart made no reply, directly, 
save by asking, Where shall I find you, 
sir, on my return ?” 


A PERILOUS MISSION. 


in 


Right here, I hope ; at least for several 
days. General Huger will arrive to-morrow 
with the main army, and the reinforce- 
ments from Virginia should be here soon. 
Then we can fight ! But perhaps it is not 
well for you to know that, considering the 
company you are soon to keep — and the 
general kindly extended his hand to 
the young officer, whom very likely, as he 
knew, he might never see again ; and with 
a reflective brow the major presently 
betook himself back to camp, leaving the 
general still intently studying topography, 
with a penchant for making his horse look 
down into ravines and clamber up into 
high places. The horse could see no sense 
in it. 

Once back in camp, Stuart’s first act was 
to interview the commissary and order an 
inspection of stock. There was not much 
demur at this ; but when he swiftly singled 
out a jcouple of likely looking calves and 
demanded them for the good of the 
service ” without explanation, there was 
trouble ; and eventually Stuart had to get 
an order from the general himself. The 


112 


ON GUARD. 


commissary was not going to hand over 
stock to any young sprig of a cavalry offi- 
cer that came along without it; while 
Stuart was in no wise inclined to proclaim 
to the world just then what plans for the 
good of the service ” he had in store. But 
he, too, had read the classics to some 
purpose. 

Directing that the two gambolling, but- 
ting sacrifices to the war-god be conducted 
to a certain sacred grove near his troop's 
encampment — where an unwise enlisted 
man, much twisted up in a rope of many 
tangles, presently arrived with them in 
great haste ; said haste being due wholly 
to their enthusiasm and not at all to his, 
judging from his impolite language when 
he got his breath again — Stuart suddenly 
descended on his men with a point-blank 
question : 

‘^How many of you ever skinned a 
muskrat ? 

The men grinned at each other, and 
answered : 

'Bout all o' we-uns, er reckon, Major." 

Good 1 Over in the grove are two calves. 


A PERILOUS MISSIQN. 


113 


They must be killed, and skinned muskrat 
fashion, without a slit in the skin from 
hip to ears, and not a word to any one. 
Station sentries to keep out spies. Unjoint 
the hips of the beasts and skin the legs 
to the hoofs in the same way. Do you 
understand ? ” 

Er reckon. Major. Rube, hyar, an’ Ike 
Yocum ’ll be the best hands at it,” re- 
sponded Silas Turnipseed. We ’ll peel 
’em off so keerful-like that you kin tie ’em 
up an’ carry water in ’em.” 

Good ! That ’s exactly what I want. 
Gavin, you go over to that camp of refu- 
gees yonder, the one where the girls are 
not. Keep clear of them ! There ’s a cart 
with red paint on one wheel. I saw a 
pair of bellows in it when I rode by 
yesterday. Buy it, if you have any to- 
bacco. If any questions are asked, ask 
in return — what does one usually want 
bellows for, when the chimney won’t draw?” 

I understand, sah ! ” and Gavin Paynt 
went grinning on his mission. Stuart, 
meanwhile, led his second mount, Selim, 
a bright bay, to where he could keep 
8 


114 


ON GUARD. 


an eye on the business in the grove, and 
yet not disturb the horse’s feelings ; that 
is to say, well to windward, where he 
spent some time juggling with various 
straps, marking measurements as he ap- 
plied them to Selim’s well-groomed skin. 

The work in the grove went on apace. 
Gavin, avoiding Scylla — the girls — fell 
against Charybdis — a talkative old coun- 
tryman, but eventually escaped after dis- 
cussing every subject known to both, and 
some few about which both knew nothing, 
but could talk of just the same, and ap- 
peared with the coveted bellows under his 
hunting-shirt. Then the men, under orders, 
tied up all the apertures in the skins till 
they were air-tight bags, hair side out, 
using stout strands of hemp for ligatures. 
A foreleg in each was left open. 

Here, Gavin ! blow those up,” was the 
order. 

So said, so done, till Gavin could blow 
no more, when the leg was tightly tied, 
while the men stared, too mystified to grin. 

^^Now, Yocum, go and blindfold Selim, 
and the rest of you bring those wind-bags 


A PERILOUS MISSION. 


115 


along,” after which, while one held the 
troubled and trembling horse the others 
securely harnessed the calfskins, one on 
each side, low down, yet allowing play 
enough so as not to interfere with leg 
action. But first they put on a surcingle 
and a blanket. 

All right, men, let go.” 

For some minutes the horse danced 
around, trying to rid himself of his objec- 
tionable burden, but presently succumbed 
to the inevitable. 

That will do. You may pull the slip- 
knots and let out the wind ” — which was 
done, the air escaping with a loud whiz, 
whereat Selim promptly stood on his hind 
feet for a moment. Then the skins col- 
lapsed, and at a little distance they were 
hardly noticeable, so well had Stuart 
matched the horse's colour. 

Now, men, saddle up, and bring me 
Tartar. Gavin, lay out for me a haver- 
sack of rations, three days' supply, and 
some cartridges for my pistols. Leave the 
sword and rifle in camp. Let me have 
the bellows” — and the major carefully 


116 


ON GUARD. 


secured it out of sight under his own 
hunting-shirt. 

Then in a few moments the troop was 
going at a rapid gait toward the Yadkin, 
leading the newly caparisoned Selim in 
their midst. The major was silent, more 
so even than his wont. The men had 
ceased to smile at his arrangements, for 
already the serious nature of the business 
had dawned on their alert, war-trained 
minds. It was a deserted country around 
them. They were nearly halfway to the 
river before they met a soul ; and then 
they suddenly came on a native at the 
turn in the road, mounted on a fairly good 
horse. At a sign from Stuart the knot 
of men around Selim swept on, while 
Stuart himself and one or two chosen 
spirits wheeled out of line and interviewed 
the stranger. 

It was to no great purpose, apparently. 
His story was straightforward, he had no 
papers, he was unarmed. Nevertheless, 
Stuart looked meditatively over the man, 
noted the clean appearance of the horse, 
and said nothing until the stranger was 


A PERILOUS MISSION. 117 

well behind, when he said, casually, to 
Gavin Paynt : 

Gavin, that man knows me, and was 
afraid of me. I saw it in his eye. I 
believe his horse has been in the river. 
Ride back and keep your eye on him, and 
get word to the general that while we have 
no proof I believe the man is a tory from 
Tarleton.” 

Then Gavin departed, glum of face and 
wrathful of heart, yet keeping well out of 
sight of his game, while the latter was 
riding hurriedly northward with an exult- 
ant mind as one who had narrowly escaped 
a soul-shaking danger. And yet, so hard 
to satisfy is man, he even then was 
grumbling What a chance ! what an 
awful good chance, if only Batt an’ Quin 
and the crowd were along ! ” 

For it was Smallhorn, the scoutmaster, 
riding toward the Dan. 

Meanwhile, on the bank of the wild, 
flood-swollen Yadkin a knot of men and 
horses gathered. One eyed keenly the op- 
posite bank, noted its loneliness, the utter 
absence of smoke or other trace of human- 


118 


ON GUARD. 


ity, shifted a pair of beautiful pistols from, 
holsters to a belt under his breast beneath 
his dun-coloured hunting-shirt, from whence 
any insignia of rank had been removed; 
then he mounted the led horse, undisturbed 
by the inflated skins, and urged it, reluc- 
tant and shuddering, into the cold river. 

Bravely the animal struck out, snorting 
and buoyant, and was swept diagonally 
down the stream, missing the landing by 
several rods, but scrambling like a goat up 
the bank. A moment’s rest, the distant 
steed lessened in size as the air was 
released, and with a wave of his hand the 
rider vanished in the gathering mists of 
coming night ; while from his covert, 
Smallhorn, the scoutmaster, having acci- 
dentally eluded the eyes that had watched 
him, in turn watched the returning troop 
and wondered, with a great, uneasy 
wonder, what had become of the rider of 
that black. For he felt, instinctively, that 
there was mischief brewing. Nor was he 
the only one uneasy; for up and down 
through the encampment wandered Gavin 
Paynt in search of his missing game. 


A PEKILOUS MISSION. 


119 


peering keenly into every unfamiliar face, 
growing more and more wrathful in heart, 
and perturbed in spirit as he met with no 
success. There was humiliation in the 
failure, for what could he say to the major 
when he returned ? 

Yet one cannot find a man in a place 
where he is not and has not been, and 
Smallhorn just then was miles away, 
speeding northward far in the rear of the 
continental army. 


CHAPTER XI. 


LORD CORNWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 

HE noble earl was troubled, and 



X showed it. There are times when 
the best of men — and some women — are 
unable to preserve a mien of calm serenity 
in the presence of small troubles, and Lord 
Cornwallis was far from being one of the 
worst of men. Had he lost a battle, he 
would have been the first to set a good 
example to his troops in fortitude and the 
good old British never-say-die ’’ spirit 
which we too have inherited as one of our 
priceless jewels. But this was a minor 
matter, and the earl was very much of a 
man ; that is to say with one or two faults 
not desirably imitated, to offset some few 
undeniable virtues. Meanwhile, his equa- 
nimity was decidedly ruffled. 

To think of the stupidity, the folly of 
it ! ” he exclaimed, in disgust, as their 
horses plodded along on the march. 


COENWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 121 

Was there much silver in the portman- 
teau ? ” asked General O’Hara, sympathiz- 
ingly. 

Silver ! I ’m not troubled over that. 
Of course the loss of the ware and table- 
linen would be inconvenient — but that ’s a 
bagatelle. It ’s the man ! I ’ve had him 
with me for years, and would not lose him 
for an estate ; and here he must slip ofE by 
himself and go back alone after a forgotten 
portmanteau of trumpery plate ! ” 

0 ye gods ! ” said the general to him- 
self, with a gasp, ^^old family plate of 
solid silver called trumpery — an’ one 
piece of it worth a hecatomb of serving 
men ! Well, my lord,” he said aloud, it ’s 
the right side of the river for the man; 
and while straying from the ranks is 
always dangerous in an enemy’s country 
he has the chances with him. We’ve 
swept the land, as clean as a whistle, of 
parties large and small; and as for any 
single footpad — ’t is a foine man with his 
hands he is, I ’ve heard.” 

Oh, yes, as to that he could more than 
hold his own with a brace of these cane- 


122 


ON GUARD. 


brake fellows face to face. If he had more 
respect for them he would not be worrying 
me now. A troop of jackals together can 
pull down a stag royal ! he went on, with 
a fine disregard for the geographical distri- 
bution of animals. For all he knew, jack- 
als and red deer did live nearer than 
twenty thousand miles of each other, in a 
bee line. 

Lord Egerton ! ” he said, suddenly, 
raising his voice. 

The lieutenant promptly spurred his 
horse forward from his humbler place. 

Leftenant, will you oblige me by 
riding back with a strong escort after that 
foolish man of mine — Jackson ? A plate 
hamper was forgotten and he went back, 
without orders, to recover it.’’ 

‘^With pleasure, sir!” and the young 
man instantly made his arrangements, 
selecting an old Peninsular veteran of a 
sergeant named Surrey and a troop of 
seasoned men. There had been a time 
when for such a jaunt he would carelessly 
have selected the nearest men to hand; 
but as has been hinted before, he learned 


CORNWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 123 

his war-lessons thoroughly as he went 
along, and now he was somewhat partic- 
ular about the company he kept. One of 
his arrangements, by the way, was imme- 
diately to freshen the priming of his pistols. 
Another was to see that his men’s weapons 
were equally in good condition, a matter 
which Lord Cornwallis watched without 
seeming to watch, and without comment, 
unless a worried smile may be rated as 
such. Meanwhile the earl took the trouble 
to make a mental note of the matter in 
his record of credits against that young 
officer’s name. To know what a man will 
do of his own accord under given circum- 
stances is of great help in selecting him 
for special duty. 

Nevertheless, the earl gazed after the de- 
parting forms for several moments, say- 
ing to himself — I hope I have done 
right to let him go. Of late he has 
had awkward luck with his escorts ! ” — 
then turned to his own more publicly im- 
portant problems, leaving Lord Egerton 
to his. 

That young man was by no means the 


124 


ON’ GUARD. 


light-hearted youth that he was when first 
he landed with his regiment at Charles- 
ton harbour and poked fun at Tarleton's 
scrubby horses. Prolonged staff duty had 
thrown him into responsibilities that were 
making their mark in his development. 
He had seen too much of war of late to 
be incautious. Why, it seemed but the 
other night, and really was but a month 
or two back, when he and Smallhorn’s 
troop of scouts stole stealthily through 
the dusk on the hot trail of Morgan’s men ; 
and vividly to his mind came the recollec- 
tion of that sunny morning afterward when 
Tarleton’s little army dressed rank in 
beautiful array and advanced in line of 
battle in classic order — horse on the 
flanks, infantry in the centre, reserve in 
the rear — into the blast of a fiery furnace 
that curled up that battle-line like leaves 
and left it a dead and broken thing. It 
seemed now a miracle that he had escaped 
from thence with but a wounded shoulder 
as his scathe, as he remembered how from 
his ordered place by Tarleton’s side in one 
half-glimpse he had last seen his escort 


CORNWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 126 

among the distant cavalry, a knot of 
scarlet in a thorny hedge of steel that 
scintillated in the morning sun with sparks 
that suddenly were dulled from gold to 
red. Then the flood of battle as suddenly 
had surged around him also, close, and 
he had seen no more of them. Where 
were they now ? 

Keen were the glances that he sent 
ahead and on every side, result of rude 
lessons learned in the soldier’s school as 
to the value of eternal vigilance. Yet for 
a time little rewarded him save the monot- 
onous red-brown of the muddy road and 
the winter-deadened lands. Nevertheless, 
he cautioned his men to keep the bright- 
est possible outlook, at which they cast 
glances at one another on the sly and 
smiled covertly. Some men never do 
overcome an inherited self-conceit, until 
it leads them where further consideration 
of the subject is profitless speculation so 
far as they are concerned. 

The sergeant, being a sergeant, with 
some responsibility, had developed further • 
but even he ventured to remark : 


126 


ON GUARD. 


don’t suppose, zur, that there be 
really any rebels left this side of the river. 
They surely were in no end of a hurry to 
get across, like rabbits into a fuz bush.” 

Can’t say as to that, Surrey. They 
have a way of reappearing, and if Jackson 
meets a scout or two it will be bad for him 
— and for the earl’s mess.” 

^^Well, zur, that Jackson be no common 
man. ’E ’s a oner with his hands, an’ 
’t would take more’n two of these half- 
clemmed runts we ’ve been chasin’ to best 
him.” 

Hum ! that depends,” said the lieu- 
tenant reflectively. ‘^Let me see, Surrey, 
were n’t you with the vanguard when we 
were chasing Morgan and ran into his 
rear in a meadow ? Don’t you remember 
when one of them came back for a wounded 
comrade ? ” 

“ Faith, zur, I ’ll never forget that ! 
Over an’ over again I ’ve seen that black 
boss in my dreams o’ nights a-comin’ 
across the meadow as swift-like as a cloud- 
shadow ; an’ the way his rider picked that 
rebel up an’ carried him off to safety — 



4i 



CORNWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 127 

I’ll own, zur, just to think on’t makes 
I feel like cheerin’, ’t was such a beautiful 
bit of soldier work. Yers, zur ! ’T is 
lucky for Jackson that un’s across the 
river. I saw him aboard the last boat 
myself. If ’e was this side, I guess Jack- 
son by this time would be gone scatt.” 

The lieutenant did not answer. His eyes 
were fixed on an object in the road which 
a sudden bend disclosed, and quick as 
thought up went his gauntleted hand above 
his head. 

Halt!” 

Deep were the furrows ploughed in the 
mud by the obediently braced hoofs of the 
horses behind him. 

^^As I live, there lies the portmanteau 
itself. Ready with your pistols, men 1 ” 

Then, for a space, silence. 

Not a rustle stirred the leafless woods. 

Forward with me. Sergeant, and keep 
guard while I look into this 1 Halt ! don’t 
spoil the trail. ” 

Why it ’s strapped, zur, still ! It 
has n’t been rifled 1 ” and the voice of the 
man who had soldiered on the Peninsula 


128 


ON GUARD. 


and knew the ways of soldier men was full 
of wonder. But where on earth be 
Jackson ? ” 

That was what Lord Egerton most 
wanted to know just then. 

Keenly the young officer studied the 
ground before him, alert to put to use 
lessons learned of Smallhorn’s men on the 
march in days gone by. 

‘^This was the way of it, Sergeant. 
Somebody haltered his horse in the rear of 
this little blind ravine for a moment while 
he came back to the front. There was 
room for only one horse, so he was alone. 
It is n’t much trampled, so he did n’t stay 
but a minute or two. Jackson arrived, and 
when abreast of the ravine no doubt he found 
himself looking down a rifle barrel. There 
are his foot-marks where he had to dis- 
mount. He was startled, and slipped in 
the mud. He came straight in, thought 
he saw a chance, and jumped. See how 
deep his toes sank in ! ” 

That was Jackson, sure, zur ! He ’s 
that sudden. There must ’a’ been a hulla- 
baloo just then. I ’d gi’en a guinea to ’a’ 
seen it. ” 


CORNWALLIS MEETS WITH A LOSS. 129 

You can see the result, now. Look 
there. 

Good Lord, zur ! That must ’a’ been 
Jackson, too ! Full-sized print of ’im, ham- 
mered into the clay ! Eight arm flying, 
right fist clenched ! Looks as though ’e ’d 
stood up against that bank to be measured 
for a fightin' suit. ’E must ’a’ thought 
’e ’d jumped at an earthquake ! I take it 
all back, zur. It 's worth two guineas not 
to ’a’ been there then. 

I ’m more than half of your opinion, 
Surrey ! ’’ exclaimed the aroused lieutenant. 

See ! there ’s where the other man 
dragged him by the collar and stood him 
up — to be tied, most likely. Then he 
lifted him back on his horse — see how 
deep the tracks are from the double weight 
— small tracks, too, compared with Jack- 
son^s. The fellow must have arms like 
steel to handle a big man like that.^' 

But why did n’t the thief pick up the 
portmanteau ? Must be ’e did n’t know 
its vally — but ’e might ’a’ looked ! ” 

Evidently the sergeant was profession- 
ally disgusted at such negligence. 

9 


130 


ON GUARD. 


He got what he wanted — the man. 
The plate was heavy, and would be in his 
way. Tell Thompson to pick it up and 
strap it to his saddle. I see ! I see ! 
Whoever it was, he wanted information ; 
and who could give it better than the earl’s 
own servant ? Thompson ! Knight ! Jen- 
kins ! Take that plate back to the column 
at speed. ’Tention, men! Left wheel! 
March ! Trot ! Yonder go the tracks, 
Surrey, straight toward the river. Come 
on, men ! We may catch them yet. ’’ 

And as a pack of hounds upon the hot 
trail of a wolf with breast-high scent runs 
in a close mass with heads erect and brist- 
ling hair, and bared teeth, so in and out of 
the hollows, with weapons ready, dashed 
the troopers. Two horses, one led, cannot 
equal in speed a troop of horses riding free. 
There might yet be a chance for Jackson ! 

And Jackson was most devoutly wishing 
that there was. 


CHAPTER XII. 


HOW A CONTINENTAL WOLF CARRIED OFF 
A BRITISH BULLDOG AGAINST HIS WILL. 

M ore than one time in the grim past, 
Stuart Schuyler, once private, later 
captain, now a decidedly youthful major of 
cavalry, had found his hands completely 
full of ^^that which his hands findeth to 
do ; ’’ and this was another of them. The 
very first word or two of the surprised 
Jackson had betrayed that here in his 
grasp, thus singularly placed, was an oppor- 
tunity to obtain definite data to complete 
the chain which for so many hours he had 
been patiently piecing together. And he 
was not in the least the one to let go a 
grip once taken. 

In one thing only he hesitated mentally, 
even at the moment when extremely active 
physically in helping that bewildered Jack- 
son to mount his horse again with his 


132 


OK GUARD. 


hands tied behind his back, — Jackson, who 
could have sworn that he stood in the centre 
of a ring around which that horse was 
gliding rapidly without foot-motion ; while 
beyond, trees, stumps, a cracked rock, were 
dizzily circling in a wider orbit of their own, 
for which he played the part of an exceed- 
ingly gloomy and red-faced sun. 

That rock, now, had an especially baleful 
effect on Jackson’s mind. As stated, it was 
cracked. What cracked it ? When? Was 
anything else cracked at the time ? For 
instance — was he ? And even as he shook 
his head solemnly in speculation he felt 
himself being lifted and flung into his sad- 
dle with a great heave, and yelled with 
sudden pain as the grip that hoisted made 
itself felt through cloth. Meanwhile — 

It is a risk to leave that in the road,” 
thought Stuart. ‘^It may be found too 
soon. But it is the earl’s private property 
fast enough. There ’s his crest to prove it ; 
and we owe him that favour as a return for 
that captured letter-bag he sent to us on 
the Catawba. The letter I got was worth 
alone a dozen such portmanteaux to me ! 


THE WOLF AND THE BULLDOG. 133 

He won’t know why, of course. But that 
won’t matter. I ’ll chance it ! ” 

Then at the thought he tumbled the 
heavy valise to earth, musing, with the 
first smile that had rested on his lips for 
many a day — 

I hope it will reach you safely, my 
lord ! I regret that lack of time prevents 
my accompanying it with a note.” Then, 
buckling his captive’s horse’s rein to the 
bridle of his own and keeping the prisoner 
on his right, he mounted his saddleless 
steed and gently started both, slowly, at 
first, for the world still was a lightsome, 
frolicsome thing to Jackson the unsteady, 
who seemed to hear, now and then, a strange 
voice speaking from the wilderness, asking 
easy questions of a military character in a 
soothing tone that induced reply without 
shocking into a state of wakefulness by 
the effort ; such easy little questions as : 

If you happened to hear said how many 
men were reported present at the last roll- 
call ? ” To which he had replied, sleepily : 

About twenty-five hundred.” 

The answers to this, and to others simi- 


134 


ON GUARD. 


larly replied to, seemed to give to the ques- 
tioner a deal of quiet satisfaction ; it was 
singular, considering the very stupid, every- 
day nature of the queries. Who cared, 
now, a broken thread of gold-lace whether 
it was General O’Hara the brigadier, or 
Lieutenant O’Hara of the artillery, who 
was leading the van, or the fact that they 
were both with the little army ? What 
earthly difference did it make to know that 
a gun-carriage had broken down just before 
he had left the column and had been aban- 
doned ? It was only an ammunition cart, 
anyway. Yet still, for what seemed a long 
time, the steady monotone of questions 
came until the very bottom of his infor- 
mation had been reached and made to give 
up its last crumb. Then, gradually, as the 
world began to cease whirling, the speed of 
their horses seemed to increase, and with a 
shock and a gasp Jackson suddenly turned 
on his companion a pair of eyes wide open 
with consternation. 

Ah ! you are awake, I see. It is time. 
Now we can go faster.” 

W — where ? Who be you ? ” 


THE WOLF AND THE BULLDOG. 135 

You’ll see, later.” 

— but I don’t want to go ! ” 

That makes no difference,” was the 
cheerful reply, emphasized by the flick of a 
switch which just then was torn from a 
passing bush and applied scientiflcally to 
the flank of the led horse, which till then 
had held the mistaken idea that when 
riders began to converse they always forgot 
to consider speed matters. He gained a 
new idea then and there. 

So did Jackson. He was being carried 
away, and as finally he realized it he made 
a sudden effort to spring from his saddle, 
regardless of speed or fetters. 

Quick as the fierce snap of a timber-wolf 
came an iron hand on his arm and the 
stern word — 

Don’t be a fool ! ” 

Not being a fool, and wincing under the 
savage grip, Jackson subsided sullenly, as 
his roving eyes caught the butt of a pistol 
bulging out the breast of the other’s buck- 
skin hunting-shirt, seemingly matched by 
other masked batteries of force. It was not 
a dream, then, He had looked down the 


136 


ON GUAKD. 


muzzle of a pistol some time before some- 
thing had happened to set the world 
a whirl. But there still remained a great 
deal about the situation which was unsat- 
isfactory and which he could not under- 
stand. 

All at once the horses were pulled up to 
a dead halt on a little knoll, and his captor 
listened intently. Thus halts a wolf some- 
times on a prairie mound, when something 
tells him to have a care for what may be 
going on far back upon his trail. Jackson, 
meanwhile, improved his mind by examin- 
ing the singular equipment of his enemy’s 
horse. Surely it was an odd taste to prefer 
to ride saddleless, on blanket and surcingle, 
with loose hides folded hair side out and 
flapping along the horse’s sides outside 
of the rider’s legs. The mystery was too 
deep for him. Therefore, being a mystery 
it was objectionable. 

Further meditation on the subject was 
rudely interrupted by Stuart, who with 
inconsiderate activity and scant warning 
started both horses at a rate of speed con- 
siderably greater than they had as yet 


THE WOLF AND THE BULLDOG. 137 

attained. His face was set and stern^ and 
Jackson had a quick feeling of elation. He 
had been missed ! Help was coming ! 
And as he strove to keep his balance he 
also kept watch for some unguarded 
moment, which, however, he presently be- 
gan to fear was a bird not found in those 
coverts when most wanted. Then without 
warning they burst out of the woods into 
the open and were flying at racing speed 
toward a far distant line of trees that 
even to his English eyes foretold a river. 
And after that — what ? 

Something cold lay for a space on his 
forehead — cold and wet. Then the wind 
whisked it glittering away. Help must 
come soon, if at all ! And it spoke well for 
Jackson that nevertheless he was sitting 
as steadily in his saddle as though he had 
grown there. 

They reached the trees, and the earth 
flew, as with a warning word and an iron 
arm the horses were halted almost at the 
very verge, just where a narrow break in 
the bank left a pass down ; and above this 
the captor’s horse stood as, panting, they 


138 


ON GUARD. 


faced the river with objecting feet. Jack- 
son, too was gazing at it with wild eyes, 
his horse well down the storm-worn gnlly. 
But Stuart was looking swiftly backward. 

Then before the bewildered face of cap- 
tured Jackson a bellows was produced from 
beneath his captor’s hunting-shirt and the 
nozzle inserted in one of those baggy skins. 
The skin bulged and swelled in quick 
response, and as swiftly was the opening 
ligatured. Jackson had deemed himself 
quick with his hands, but he eyed those 
flying fingers as though fascinated, as the 
other skin already was half inflated; and 
without checking his work, Stuart’s head 
was inclined ever so slightly. A dead 
branch had cracked far away in the woods 
across the clearing. A low crash followed, 
a tremble of soft thuds, yet still his hands 
kept at their business without a break, and 
ever on his worried prize his eyes kept 
watch and ward. 

It was done ; and the fireside pipe thrust 
to its hiding-place with a single motion. 
The next second Jackson yelled, for he had 
been seized, and dragged with irresistible 


THE WOLF AND THE BULLDOG. 139 

force out of his saddle to a place across the 
withers of Stuart’s horse, the good steed 
squatting like a rabbit for a moment under 
the sudden weight. 

Jackson gave one last wild, protesting 
cry — 

I can’t swim ! ” 

Then, with iron determination, his captor 
forced both of the reluctant horses into the 
swirling flood with switch and spur, aided 
by the narrow walls of the water-worn 
pass, and in a twinkling the prisoner found 
himself almost sitting on the water, buoyed 
up by the bulging bags beneath, while 
near by on the down-stream side his own 
horse plunged and snorted along at the 
end of his tether. 

There was a mad dash and splutter of 
hoofs behind them ; a chorus of astonished 
cries as Lord Egerton and his discomfited 
troop barely saved themselves from plung- 
ing headlong over the bank in their hot 
pursuit ; and as the angry lieutenant has- 
tily checked one or two of the more impetu- 
ous of his men who were tempted by the 
chance to try a shot for luck ” regardless 


140 


ON GUARD. 


of the risk to Jackson, he was struck dumb 
with wrathful surprise ; for the rebel whose 
horse was so strangely better able to swim 
with two riders than his mate could with- 
out any was now a long way out and down- 
ward in his drifting, diagonal course, and 
just then the rider turned backward over 
his shoulder a face gleaming with laughing 
triumph. 

And it was the face of Stuart Schuyler ! 


CHAPTER XIII. 


HOW STUART BROUGHT IN A PRISONER FOR 
HIS GENERAL TO QUESTION. 

H ello, Tom ! 

Howdy, Stuart ! 

Hooray for the major ! ” 

Enthusiastic were the greetings as Stuart 
suddenly fell in with a vigilant patrol, 
while yet long miles from headquarters, 
and shook hands heartily with his friend. 
It was time, thought the captain, as he 
anxiously and affectionately scanned the 
face of the returning scout. The face be- 
fore him was white till the eyes looked 
like burnt holes in a blanket,” and he 
seemed to sway a little in his saddle as 
though keeping upright by sheer force of 
will. Nevertheless, to Tom’s worried in- 
quiries he responded : 

As sound as a bell. Not even a scratch. 
Lack of sleep is all that troubles me.” 


142 


ON GUARD. 


What have we here ?” and Tom eyed 
the sullen Jackson contemplatively. 

A specimen brick from Cornwallis’s 
fortifications. Untie him, you two, make 
him comfortable, and take him out of 
earshot.” 

Looks like a good, tough, imported 
brick, warranted to stand fire,” and Tom 
eyed critically the departing prisoner who 
glowered back as he rode away, rubbing 
his freed hands to restore the circulation. 
“ I hope the earl has n’t many like him in 
stock.” 

‘^1 regret to say that he has — about 
twenty-five hundred, if accounts are correct. 
All the weaklings have been weeded out 
by war, and those left will stand a deal of 
hammering.” 

Sho ! I want to know ! That ’s a 
bad lookout for us, for the Virginny militia 
have all backed out and stayed at home. 
What is my lord doing now ? ” 

Tom was proving his Yankee lineage 
to an unmilitary degree. 

Marching for the upper fords as fast as 
man can travel. He ’s like a bull on the 


STUART BRINGS IN A PRISONER. 143 

other side of a fence, hurrying along the 
line till he comes to a weak spot, when 
he’ll be through, and at you. Has the 
army joined?” 

Oh, yes. Huger ’s here. We ’ve a lot 
of good men, too. But where did you 
pick up your ‘ specimen ’ ? Have any 
trouble ? ” 

On the road in the earl’s rear. No 
trouble at all with him after the first argu- 
ment. He was plucky enough, but a little 
slow, and, luckily for himself, has a fair 
amount of common-sense. He was missed, 
however, and a friend of ours came on 
after him quite fast enough for comfort. 
In fact it finally became a matter of 
seconds whether the prisoner would win 
the game or I ; whether I ’d make the 
river in time or remain as an ornament to 
the Egyptian chariot wheels.” 

That ’s what comes of being stubborn, 
Stuart,” grinned Tom. One has to learn 
that there ’s a time to let go, as well as to 
grab, and you have n’t quite got your 
lesson yet. I ’m beginning to fear you are 
getting too old to learn. ’T was Tarleton, 
I s’pose.” 


144 


ON GUARD. 


No/^ 

Who then ? ’’ 

Lord Egerton.” 

You don’t say ! Well, well, that was 
a meeting, considering that we last enter- 
tained him with our best ’possum when he 
came across the Catawba under that flag 
of truce. Mighty ungrateful of him to 
chase his host to water like that, or is 
that his British way of showing his 
appreciation ? ” 

The fellow can ride, Tom ; I can tell 
you that! Selim, here, is a good goer, but 
more than once I wished I had Tartar 
under me instead. I could hear them com- 
ing for a long way, getting nearer and 
nearer, and it was quite a question whether 
I could get my floats inflated in time for 
service before their pistols would be near 
enough to make a sieve of them, and me. 
But for my prisoner, I think they ’d have 
tried it as it was, but I was just a little 
out of good range, and had the man in 
front of me, beside. So Lord Egerton 
dared not risk it. I heard him checking 
his men, and gave him a look back over my 


STUART BRINGS IN A PRISONER. 145 

shoulder. You should have seen his face 
when he realized who I was. It made me 
laugh all the way across the river.” 

Those floats are great things, Stuart ! 
I had no idea you could make them work 
so well. Why, that red-coat must weigh 
near two hundred, and you are n’t a light 
weight exactly ; then there was the horse, 
though to be sure he helped to do his own 
floating. Still, it was about as good as a 
boat — say, a real nice leaky one.” 

Well — it was leaky. I was taking 
chances, there, I ’ll own. The prisoner 
couldn’t swim. He said so. If the skins 
would n’t float us I could n’t very well let 
him go down; while if I went back I 
might go up to a tree limb. I should 
have had to slip off and swim alongside, 
and the water was n’t warm. Even as it 
was, I had to stop long enough to start 
a fire and dry our clothing while the 
horses had some rest. A man can go on 
about forever, but a horse can’t, as you 
know.” 

thought the nags looked rather fit, 
considering. But if you think you can go 
10 


146 


OK GUARD. 


on forever like this, Stuart, you are 
mightily mistaken. You must take a rest, 
somehow. You are hardly fit to ride 
another rod.'' 

Perhaps you're right, Tom," said the 
young major, soberly. There is very 
little chance for it at camp, and perhaps 
I had better begin now. Stop a moment ! 
That prisoner 's a body servant of the earl’s, 
I suspect, and the general perhaps can 
get more information out of him than I 
have — although I haven’t been idle.” 
Here Stuart indulged in a quiet chuckle. 

When you hand him over to the provost 
be sure to tell him not to let him mix with 
other prisoners till after the general has 
had his chance. Now, let me see; isn’t 
that red-head, yonder, Yocum, who handles 
the axe so handily ? ” and Stuart whistled, 
the group in advance promptly halting. 

Yocum, you have your axe with you. 
Cut me those two saplings yonder and 
trim them into twenty-foot lengths — 
that's it. Now pick out your steadiest 
horse and lead him in ahead of Selim here. 
Now, lash the saplings alongside of them 


STUART BRINGS IN A PRISONER. 147 

to the stirrup-leathers, one on each side. 
Selim has n’t any. Here, Gavin, he knows 
you, and you ride light. Shift your saddle 
to him and mount, then we ’ll have some- 
thing to tie to. Now, stretch a blanket 
between those poles and lash it strong. 
Put Selim’s surcingle across the affair 
above. That’s it! Now, Tom, give me 
a leg up, for I feel a bit tottery ” — which 
the captain promptly did, fairly lifting his 
weary friend into the litter. 

Stuart wriggled his way forward till 
he reached the rolled-up coat which was 
to serve as a pillow, with the surcingle 
across above his breast in case of accident 
to either steed ; and the moment his head 
touched the roll he gave one deep sigh like 
a tired child, and dropped off into the 
soundest of slumbers. 

Up and down swayed the springy poles 
but he heeded it not, and quickly the 
knowing riders of the harnessed steeds 
changed the gaits of their horses till they 
found the one most easy and safe for their 
charge, then kept to that. It was swift 
enough, and the half-hours roUed away. 


148 


ON GUARD. 


Now and then one of the group urged his 
horse alongside and took a long look down- 
ward at the calm face of the leader they 
had learned to love so well ; and when 
presently the hot sun broke out from the 
clouds for a space, one was found instantly 
ready to ride where his shadow would fall 
athwart the dreamer’s face. For Stuart 
was dreaming. Up and down, up and 
down swayed the saplings, and far away 
in the North his dream was living, and 
war was not, nor had ever been, but in- 
stead there stood a grove in Roxbury, 
between two giant ledges that some earth- 
quake had reft apart ; and in that grove 
grew a slender birch which years and 
the winter snows had bent in a bow till 
its crest touched the ground ; and in the 
heart of that leafy crest a blanket had 
been spread whereon reclined a sweet-faced 
girl, with deep, serious eyes, and a glint 
of chestnut in them. And her, too, his 
hand b}^ a touch was swaying with easy, 
gentle sweep, up and down, up and down, 
while the sunlight wove swift patterns 
through the leaves and on the grass. So 


STUART BRINGS IN A PRISONER. 149 

restful to think of now, and live once 
more, while dreaming ! 

Before ever the army lines were in sight 
another patrol was met; and regardless 
of the rank of the ever-vigilant personage 
whose giant form confronted them, Cap- 
tain Ludlow promptly raised one hand in 
salute and then as suddenly the other in 
a sign for silence, a turn of his head 
toward the litter giving sufficient cause. 
The general understood and waved back 
the members of his escort who were crowd- 
ing up, repeating the gesture for silence; 
then softly urged his own horse alongside 
of the litter. 

Wounded ?” was the question, looked 
rather than asked. 

Tired out, sir,” was the low response. 

He brought back yonder prisoner for you 
to question.” 

A look of instant relief passed over the 
general’s face. 

What should I do without my boys ? 
Halt here, Captain, till he wakes or till 
I send for him. He has well earned his 
rest. Meanwhile, let the prisoner be sent 


150 


ON GUARD. 


to headquarters ; perhaps we can make use 
of him. Did the major tell you anything 
that he had learned beyond the Yadkin ? ’’ 
Yes, sir,” — and Tom repeated what 
Stuart had told him in regard to the 
British troops. 

The general looked down a moment 
doubtfully, as though after all more than 
half inclined to wake the sleeper, then 
thought better of it and moved away. 
Then the uneasy puritan conscience of 
Stuart Schuyler, major, began to rise and 
fight for the mastery with its adversary the 
flesh. It gave a great surge toward wake- 
fulness, then sank back defeated, but not 
beaten. Another surge, and a retreat, and 
yet another onset, each effort ending a little 
nearer to its mark ; till at last it roused the 
dormant brain to the very verge between 
sleeping and waking, where it hung balanced 
for minutes so crowded with dream-life that 
each might well be a year. Then came the 
snapping of a firelock as one of the guard 
at a little distance, who had been cleaning 
his rifle, carelessly let the hammer slip, as 
he uncocked it, from his grasp. On the 


STUART BRINGS IN A PRISONER. 151 

instant Stuart's hands flew to his breast 
and grasped the butts of his pistols; but 
he himself otherwise moved not a muscle, 
save his eyes that bent their gaze upward 
through the leafless branches above him, 
and his keen ears were intent on ascertain- 
ing all that the faintest sounds could tell. 
Stuart had rested well. 

Ten minutes later and he was reporting 
himself at the headquarters of General 
Greene. Later in the day it was noted 
that the officers were gathering thither 
from all quarters, and the cause flew like 
a camp rumour among the men. 

The general had called a council of 
war. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE KESULT OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. 

L ike wildfire next morning the news 
spread among the troops. 

We retreat; and Morgan leaves the 
army.'’ 

The first idea was nothing new nor un- 
expected. Old heads a-plenty had noted 
that the Virginia militia, so sorely needed, 
had not come in, had guessed the cause, and 
discounted the results. But — the word 
about Morgan was news indeed. 

Why did he do it ? Pique ? Jealousy ? 
Some rival’s work ? Politics in the rear ? 
Endless were the conjectures and wild were 
the shots. But here and there some back- 
woods philosopher had a word to say in 
season. 

Hit’s no ways surprisin’ ter me,” re- 
marked Silas Turnipseed to the group around 
his breakfast camp-fire. ^‘He’s fit Injuns, 


KESULT OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. 153 

tories, red-coats, as long as any man. He ’s 
slep’ mizzable in the swamps an’ with one 
ear open in the mount’ins, in frost ’n’ rain. 
Now he’s got the sciatiky a-twingin’ in 
every corner o’ that big body o’ his ’n ; an’ 
we-uns all know that ter hev it in one cor- 
ner alone is enough ter make a wood-lot 
yell. We lose a good man what’s done 
good work. Wot then? Doggone it, thar ’s 
others, thank God ! ” 

Silas was now wearing what passed for 
stripes on his sleeve, a matter resulting 
in inordinate pride ; and a sly laugh went 
round. 

“ Who ’d yo’ put in ’is place, Sargint ? ” 
Ther major, ’f I had my way.” 

Nobody laughed now. A general mur- 
mur of acquiescence rustled here and there. 

He ’d do ! ’Member how he drawed 
Tarleton out ’n his den, ’way back befo’ de 
Cowpens ? ” 

Why not ?” 

Can’t it be ? ” 

Er reckon not,” went on the sergeant, 
gratified at the attention paid to his words 
of wisdom. Yo’ see, things has ter be 


154 


ON GUARD. 


run proper army fashion, not like a Pres- 
bye-te-ri-an convention, else they ’ll allers 
keep a-gittin’ upsot endways. Now he ’s 
only a major yit, an’ thar’s all o’ four 
cunnels that ^ud have a right ter expec’ 
the place — Billy Washington, Harry Lee, 
Howard, 0th’ Williams. One o’ them ’ll 
git it, sho’. But jist see our luck, men ! 
We-all git a right smart man, no matter 
which we pick; an’ then still have ther 
major ter fall back on. Hit beats an all- 
trump hand at seven-up out o’ sight ! ” 

Er reckon yo’ ’re a judge, Silas. Yo’ ’ve 
had ’vantages better ’n we-uns. I Ve seen 
yo’ hold that kind of a hand at kyards 
mo’n oncet.” 

An irrepressible laugh went round the 
ring at that. Silas’s ideas of honour were 
somewhat abnormally developed, bulging 
on one side, concave on another. Cards 
were on his concave side. 

A tall, taciturn fellow was squatting with 
the rest around the fire, chiefly remarkable 
by the fact that apparently he had no gun. 
As there were others like him, waiting a 
next engagement for a gun, blanket, shoes, 


RESULT OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. 155 

every necessary equipment, he was not con- 
spicuous, and having no gun was less likely 
to be detailed for armed duty where he 
might not care to go. Just here he ex- 
pressed his approval of Silas’s speech in a 
manner as gratifying as it was unexpected. 

After some fumbling he produced a gen- 
erous plug of tobacco, eyed it affectionately, 
bit off the larger half, then silently held 
out the other to the astonished Silas, who 
grabbed it with avidity. 

Lordy, stranger ! But they raise Chris- 
tians in yo’r mount’ns, fer sho ! ” 

Further intelligible speech on his part 
was suddenly stilled. There was an ob- 
stacle in the way. Meanwhile, the others, 
the fate of the entire plug having been 
decided, considerately looked skyward, as 
though while approving of its disposition, 
they themselves were not nicotine inclined. 

Days afterward General Greene wrote to 
Otho Williams; I have great reason to 
believe that one of Tarleton’s officers was 
in our camp night before last.” 

He might have stated the matter with 
still more certainty. Smallhorn, having 


156 


ON GUAKD. 


failed to reach the Dan, and compelled to 
return southward, was attending diligently 
to his business of making new friends and 
— listening to their talk. But he rather 
overdid the matter, and was unable to leave 
quite as easily as he expected. Instead, he 
suddenly found himself marching north- 
ward again toward Boyd’s Ferry with the 
army, and the latter looked to him smaller 
than ever, weak and inefficient, arousing in 
his mind feelings of wonder and contempt. 
What was this to stand against the veterans 
of Cornwallis ? Why, it seemed an army 
with every good man sifted out of it ! 

And that, had he known it, was exactly 
what it was. 

Then he began to look around cautiously 
for that able-bodied young rebel who repre- 
sented to him an uncaught fortune ; but he 
was nowhere visible ; and then the winter 
of his discontent began. 

The major had other business of his own. 
Few were the men in General Greene’s 
command whose particular worth the gen- 
eral had not measured — provided that 
they had any. And his flying pen already 


RESULT OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. 157 

had dashed off order after order, sifting out 
the wheat from the chaff, until he had thus 
set aside seven hundred men, the very flower 
of his little army, to act as buckler against 
his foeman’s spear. The cavalry of the 
First and Third and the Legion, say two 
hundred and forty ; sixty Virginia rifle- 
men, two hundred and eighty infantry un- 
der Lieutenant-Colonel Howard ; and Lee’s 
infantry of the Legion to complete the tale. 

Then the general called to him that son 
of thunder, Otho Williams, than whom no 
other better knew the proper handling of 
mountain men, and gave him his orders. 
Then the world became a busy one just 
there for those busy men. 

I see the game, Tom,” said Stuart to 
his friend, as they started out with their 
own respective commands well in hand. 

Cornwallis has found his breach in the 
fence far up in the headwaters of the 
Yadkin. He has crossed and is coming 
down on our left flank. Now, there ’s no 
safety for this army south of the Dan, 
and that river is all of seventy miles away. 
So we boys must keep the earl happy and 


158 


ON GUARD. 


lead him into paths of peace, while the rest 
make tracks northward as fast as the mud 
will let them.’' 

“ I 'm afraid, if you are in this game, 
the earl will find that particular path of 
peace unusually thorny ! ” and Tom laughed 
a note. 

The earl did. Down from the upper 
fords he came swiftly marching, confident, 
and his veteran troops strung out in a long 
line to facilitate speed over the sticky clay. 
O’Hara, as usual, led the van ; and with 
him just then, on staff duty, rode Lord 
Eger ton. 

That general was in an aroused and 
happy mood. He liked activity. ’Pon 
me wor-rd, Egerton, it’s good they are 
at running, these divils of rebels. Tho’ 
I ’ll admit they can bite whin the time 
comes, too. The audacity of thim takes 
me breath away whin I think of the 
chances they take whin we laste expect 
it. ’T was a fine chase they gave you 
after the earl’s man, Jackson, now.” 

There was but one,” and the lieutenant 
looked extremely disgusted. 


RESULT OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. 159 

One was it ? Powers of evil ! Who ’d 
have thought it ? A guinea to an onion 
that the one was an Irishman. See that 
now ! ” cried O’Hara, with enthusiasm. 

More ill luck for me ! ’T is the first 
time in my life that the possession of a 
leek would help fill my pocket. You never 
in your life knew an Irishman to hear the 
name of Schuyler ; yet that was the beggar’s 
name. ” 

The general whistled and turned in his 
saddle. 

Egerton, me boy, this thing is gettin’ 
past a joke. ’Twas funning I really 
thought ye were whin the wor-rd went 
round about how Tarleton was put to his 
trumps by that scamp. But this means 
predatory war, as a wolf haunts the herd, 
and Tartar fashion. Your respected grand- 
father would have a fit if he knew the 
risks you run, and not a son living to his 
name. Kape closer to the guard, me boy, 
in the future. We can’t spare you yet. 
How did he get off when you were so 
near?” 

Why, we could n’t shoot without kill- 


160 


ON GUARD. 


ing Jackson. He had some sort of floats 
that kept his horse from sinking, and it 
would have been suicide for us to tempt 
that wild river then without. When the 
rascal looked back over his shoulder at me 
and grinned, never in my life since I left 
Eton have I so wanted to punch a beggar’s 
head as I did then.” With which exceed- 
ingly British sentiment Lord Egerton sulked 
like a Briton. 

It was hard, that ! ” commented O’Hara, 
laughing. But never mind. You ’ll have 
another chance, beyond doubt. He ’s a lad 
that does n’t stay quiet long, from all I hear. 
But it ’s curious where he got it ! He 
might have been listening to us back at 
the ferry we did n’t cross, for I mind we 
talked of that very plan. What ! Huzza ! 
Sword of me grandmother, the fun is about 
to begin ! ” 

It certainly looked so, for their way was 
suddenly blocked by what seemed a large 
force of horse and foot, which could handle 
rifles as though they were all born in a 
gun-shop, using bullet-pouches for rattles 
and gun-flints for cutting teeth. Check ! 


CHAPTER XV. 


HOW LORD CORNWALLIS LEARNED A GEO- 
METRICAL FACT, THAT PARALLEL ROADS 
DO NOT ALWAYS MEET. 



ENERAL O’HARA presents his com- 


pliments and bids me say we have 
overtaken the enemy, sir ! ” reported Lord 
Egerton, halting his foaming horse by the 
earTs. 

Cornwallis’s eyes glowed, and he gave a 
keen look up and down his extended line. 

Very good, sir ; pass the word rearward 
to close up with all speed ! ” 

Off went the lieutenant, regardless of 
where the mud might fly, shouting as he 
passed each leader — Close up ! We have 
them ! Close up ! ” Then thundered back 
again, eager to be in his place, and exultant 
at the thought that his staff duty would 
ensure his being in the thick of the busi- 
ness. As to any danger, that only occurred 
to him as existing enough to add spice to 


11 


162 


ON GUARD. 


the work in hand. To the soldier, it is 
ever ^Hhe other man’’ who is to get hit, 
not he. 

The earl himself spurred onward in all 
haste, personally to measure the situation. 
It seemed too good to be true, that at last 
he had overtaken his lively enemy, who 
hitherto had proved as elusive as a flea, and 
as prone to bite in unexpected places. 
Such persons are exceedingly inconvenient. 
As soon as the van was sufficiently strength- 
ened, therefore, swift flew the orders to 
exert a steady pressure and thereby ascer- 
tain something more definite as to the 
strength of the continentals. It was done ; 
but by that time the barrier had vanished, 
and a fresh spurt of marching was required 
to bring them in touch again. A turn of 
the road presently revealed his opponents 
marching for all they were worth, and in 
the very act of swinging into a crossroad 
leading north. 

Aha 1 Mr. Greene would evade us. Our 
turn will come, gentlemen ! ” cried the earl, 
gaily, to his staff. The first large river 
now will block them, and the supremacy of 


A GEOMETRICAL FACT. 163 

our King in the Carolinas will be definitely 
established then and there, and for all 
time. They are marching for the Dan, but 
they must cross by the upper fords, and it 
will be strange indeed if we cannot out- 
march them thither ! ’’ 

Thus began one of the most extraordi- 
nary marches of the world. 

All the afternoon they plodded on, and 
far into the night before the earl gave leave 
to rest, and as the weary vanguard halted, 
far onward still their listening ears told 
them of the hurrying feet of the tireless 
rebel rear. Yet men must rest. Mean- 
while, on quite a different road Lee and 
Williams held consultation; Williams, sharp- 
eyed, slender, stern ; Lee, the embodiment of 
good humour over his whole athletic frame 
of five feet nine, and seemingly enjoying 
the situation. 

How about those men of the rear-guard, 
Lee ? Will they stand enough to keep up 
the mask ? 

Clear grit. Colonel, rank and file, and 
Billy Washington has lent me his best 
major.’’ 


164 


ON GUARD. 


^^They must guard against night sur- 
prises/’ 

Suht’inly, Colonel. The earl is bound 
to try it ; but there are n’t weasels enough 
in his whole army to catch that major 
asleep. I Ve heard of his work down 
yawnduh.” 

Williams mused a moment. 

There ’s no help for it ! ” he muttered. 
Then, aloud, We must not take even 
the slightest chance. Cornwallis may see 
through the trick and a night march would 
turn the tables on us rarely. Half the 
men must stand guard through the night 
till three, and the other half the next 
night.*’ 

Lee whistled softly to himself. 

‘‘ Six hours’ sleep in forty-eight. Short 
measure. Colonel, but we can do it.” 

We must ! And our wariest officer must 
command the watch-guard to-morrow, and 
report the British progress from time to 
time.” 

^^That will still be the major, then — 
Major Schuyler. He guarded Morgan’s 
rear, till he reached the Cowpens. A pan- 


A GEOMETRICAL FACT. 


165 


ther could not stalk him. He’s the only 
man I know under whose guardianship I 
could sleep comfortably this night. It's 
just impossible to catch him unawares.” 

But he left his general behind at the 
Catawba,” replied Williams, with a doubt- 
ful frown, his eyes taking a repellent light 
not pleasant to behold. 

Davidson’s fault, that. Colonel. I got 
at the facts for the general myself. Dav- 
idson ordered young Schuyler to hold that 
bank till further orders ; and when he gets 
that kind of an order it seems he never lets 
go. Then Davidson waited a bit too long 
before giving the word to fall back, was 
himself the last to mount while the rest 
already were spurring, and of course he 
was n’t missed for a minute or two in the 
darkness when he fell. When he was, the 
British already held the bank and nothing 
could be done. I cross-questioned every 
man of that squad like a lawyer, and they 
all tell the same story. He would have 
gone back even then if the men would 
have let him.” 

‘‘ Well — if you are sure of him — ” 


166 


ON GUARD. 


We have no better man in the army. 
I got him for just such work. But we 
need a relief officer. He cannot do it 
all.” 

Yes — say, Captain Ludlow ? ” 

Another good man. But — excuse me, 
Colonel, are we not passing good camping- 
ground ? And here comes a courier ! Now 
may the Lord grant that the British have 
halted.’’ 

And that was exactly what the messen- 
ger had come to report, at which Williams 
promptly set Lee’s boy-bugler, young Gillis, 
to pass the word quietly for the com- 
mand to halt and go into camp. Com- 
mand by trumpet had to be omitted just 
then, for if the wakeful earl should hear in 
that still February night a camping-call 
sounded far away across country to his 
right he would be likely next morning to 
send Tarleton down to inquire. 

Welcome word, was that command to 
halt I Many a weary horse stopped in his 
tracks and refused to budge a step till 
forced, and the men themselves lost no 
time in making as comfortable a bivouac as 


A GEOMETRICAL FACT. 167 

the case permitted, with one blanket for 
three men. But the leaders still held con- 
verse. There was much at stake, more 
than even they then knew. 

Cornwallis must be right sure by this 
time that we are aiming for the upper 
fords,” said Williams, a little absently, as 
he watched the effect of his order. 

No doubt of that ; and as there are 
plenty of roads leading westerly I expect 
soon to hear of his taking one in the hope 
of getting there first by a shorter cut,” 
and the two smiled grimly. 

But Williams shook his head. 

^^No! the earl has had lessons in war 
'against Washington, up North. He is the 
last man here to let go of the substance 
and snatch at the shadow. But if we can 
keep him amused for a day or two it will 
give the general an excellent start. Well, 
Colonel, I think I will take the first sleep, 
and will ask you to set the guard.” 

Thus Lee was left to convey the order 
which gave repose to half the force and 
doomed the other half for a certain term to 
walk the night,” as mournful as a collection 


168 


ON GUARD. 


of duplicate ghosts from Hamle fc. A minute 
passed — by sleeper’s time. Then men were 
roughly shaken awake, were informed out of 
all sense that it was 3 a.m., and with neither 
drum nor bugle for an hour they dragged 
their feet along their stumbling way. But 
when the equally wide-awake men of the 
earl’s were tramping through the ashes of the 
dead camp of the videttes on their road, 
Lee’s and Williams’s men on their parallel 
one were comfortably breakfasting miles 
nearer to the Dan. Then the march of the 
day began, unbroken by another meal till 
next 4 A.M. breakfast time. It is not 
recorded that many men grow fat that 
way. 

Thus passed one day, and yet another ; 
Cornwallis, Williams, Greene, all pressing 
northerly on parallel roads, with Greene 
ahead and the earl the hindmost, yet confi- 
dent that he was treading on the very heels 
of the continental army, so well had Stuart 
kept up the illusion with his men. No 
new work for him was this ! It was the 
work in front of Tarleton over again. 
Now, as then, he made it an unhealthy 


A GEOMETRICAL FACT. 169 

climate for scouts who approached too 
near, and the deadly aim of his rifles gave 
the men of the British van increased respect 
for them and even caution — a trait of 
which the Briton really has too little for 
his best welfare. Yet there were men of 
value among them also. 

Once and again as he rode with O’Hara 
for a space after delivering an order, Lord 
Egerton caught sight of a familiar figure 
hovering warily beyond gunshot, yet not 
too far for a dash if need should arise. 
O’Hara saw it,too, and it brought to his mind 
likewise that sudden crash when his front 
ranks were rolled over just before they 
reached the Yadkin ; and not caring to have 
that happen again before the face of the 
earl himself, he gave orders to his troops 
to be ready for a volley at any moment. 
Once he caught a fair look at a man with 
a head of brilliant red, and even at that 
distance noted that an axe swung at his 
saddle-bow, a matter that revived vivid 
memories of the fight in the mist not long 
ago. Still, the looked-for charge was un- 
accountably delayed ; and the more Lord 


170 


ON GUARD. 


Egerton eyed that watchful enemy the 
more it began to dawn upon him that he 
in turn would bear watching. Presently, 
with a sudden idea, he rode out well ahead 
of their own videttes. 

Have a care, Lif tenant ! If they tur-rn, 
ye are gone, an’ that crusadin’ villain is' 
with thim still ! ” shouted O’Hara after 
him, but with only a glance ahead Egerton 
bent over his saddle-bow and scrutinized 
the road-bed long and sharply. Where 
were the footprints of the infantry ? 
Horsemen alone had passed here lately, 
and few at that. ’T was a snare ! 

General,” he cried, as O’ Hara arrived. 

We are being tricked ! Greene’s army 
isn’t ahead of us. ’Tis but a will-o’-the- 
wisp of scouts to mislead us. Greene him- 
self must be off here to the right or left on 
some other road.” And he pointed to the 
plain trail. 

Powers of the wor-rld ! Where have our 
eyes been ? Carry the word to the earl at 
once, Liftenant, while we kape up the play. 
It ’s tur-rning the tables we ’ll do, maybe, on 
those sons of desate. May their pillows 
this night be har-rd an’ cowld ! ” 


A GEOMETRICAL FACT. 171 

Thus began another move on the stern 
checkerboard of war. The earl thought 
for a moment, exclaimed O’Hara’s right ! 
Mr. Greene is taking a shorter road to some 
ferry ! ” and without a moment’s hesitation 
he sent Captain Miller of Tarleton’s dra- 
goons with a strong force down the nearest 
cross-road to the right, with orders to cut 
the trail of the enemy, if possible, and 
learn his route. Craft against craft ! 


CHAPTER XVI. 


HOW GENEKAL o'hARA FOUND THAT TO 
CEASE FROM CHASING A SHADOW YET 
DID NOT GIVE HIM THE SUBSTANCE. 

jWAYS at intervals in the game of 



war occurs the game of bluff. To be 
effective it must be faultless. The least 
hesitancy, the first false note risks instant 
failure if the foe is keen. 

Long years of training under Washington 
himself had made Stuart Schuyler a master 
in the game. Lee was not far wrong in 
his statement that they had no better man 
for the place. He could not maintain his 
speed — which was necessary — and the 
freshness of his men — also important — 
and improvise footmen, too ; and he early 
recognized that weak point in his work, and 
strove to draw attention away from it by 
brisk manoeuvring, by unseen dismounts and 
momentary display of those dismounted, 


CHASING A SHADOW. 


173 


and by the deadly accuracy of their fire, 
a matter neither to be disputed nor ignored 
by those unwise people who persisted in 
following him in spite of his vigorous 
efforts toward their discouragement. No 
known stratagem was wanting, else had 
Cornwallis not chased him for nearly three 
days in confident thought that he was driv- 
ing in front of him all of Greene’s army 
before he was undeceived. 

O’Hara was an Irishman and quick- 
witted ; a good soldier and a brave man ; 
but thus far he had been outmatched in 
this game of wits, and was outmatched 
still, for the earl, acting under confirmed 
information, had not shifted the route of 
his forces a half-hour by the glass before 
a horseman raced up to Colonel Williams 
with the report that the British van was 
now moving with suspicious slowness ! 

Williams was equally prompt, and sought 
out Lee in his place at the rear. 

Lee, this confirms that farmer’s report 
that Cornwallis has at last got into our 
road. Captain Armstrong and his cavalry, 
who went back to investigate, will surely 


174 


ON GUARD. 


meet him, and you must back them up. 
That will check the earl a little.” 

Instantly at the word the ready cavalry- 
man wheeled out of line, signalled to his 
troop to follow, and vanished, while Wil- 
liams took Lee’s place at the rear of the 
force and rode onward, with his ear ever in- 
clined to the backward trail, and anxiety in 
his thoughts. 

Then for a long time there was silence 
in the ranks, broken only by the occasional 
arrival of a courier from the watch-guard, 
reporting the still slow progress of O’Hara’s 
men ; and once or twice one from the ever- 
anxious general, giving encouraging word 
of his own progress to his faithful sub- 
ordinates. Then suddenly came news both 
bad and good. 

There were indeed British in their rear ! 
A part of Lee’s Legion had come on Tarle- 
ton’s dragoons unexpectedly — their first 
encounter with them — and, with the in- 
stantaneous dash of their heavier steeds 
had rolled over a score at least, both horse 
and man going down before the living 
avalanche which then had promptly retired, 


CHASING A SHADOW. 


175 


almost scot free ; and later, Lee himself 
had been passed unseen by a squadron in 
hot pursuit of the retiring men, and coming 
up in its rear had captured it, the prisoners 
being present with their escort as witness 
to the story. Lee had remained behind 
for further work if needed. 

Williams eyed the captives somewhat 
curiously. He had seen many a prisoner, 
but never any so grewsome, never men 
more slashed with the sabre’s edge ; while 
their officer was as white as the men 
were red, and even less able to talk, al- 
though unwounded. The colonel made no 
comment, whatever he may have won- 
dered, but gave orders for their comfort 
and prompt forwarding to headquarters 
— fortunate men ! Not for days afterward 
was it known that they had chased down 
and murdered young Gillis, the unarmed 
boy trumpeter of Lee’s, so maddening that 
officer that after the subsequent foray was 
over he first roundly scolded Captain Lewis 
for taking any prisoners at all, against his 
express orders, and secondly, was prevented 
from hanging the captured officer. Miller, 


176 


ON GUARD. 


out of hand, as responsible for the murder, 
only by the unexpectedly close approach 
of Cornwallis’s men. Small wonder that 
Miller looked as white as his name would 
imply, and had learned a lesson that he 
did not forget ! 

But after all, this was no time for private 
vengeance, however well deserved ; for, 
in obedience to his orders, Williams had 
crossed over into Greene’s road lest the 
earl manage to get between them ; and 
now it was clear that Cornwallis also had 
swung into line directly in the rear. Swift 
riders recalled the faithful watch-guard, 
which had served its turn so well, and for 
days and nights yet the strange pursuit- 
retreat kept on with scarce a pause for 
food or rest, as though all were but portions 
of one army. If defile or stream checked 
the advance, on rushed O’Hara to take 
advantage; — O’Hara, vowing vengeance 
for being tricked, and transferred to the 
right road as soon as the truth was known. 
But ever, as often as he grew dangerous, 
round upon him turned Lee, fiercely at bay, 
backed by the keenest die-hards in the con- 


CHASING A SHADOW. 


177 


tinental army, and fought him off until 
even his Irish blood had had enough of 
useless fighting, and thenceforth was con- 
tent to follow close, and wait for a real 
check in the rebel flight. 

Those were the times when Lee best 
learned to know the men who rode in 
former days with Colonel Washington, and 
he did not scruple to sit silent on his horse 
and learn as he watched Stuart give swift 
orders to Silas Turnipseed, Gavin Paynt, 
Ike Yocum, and the fringed riflemen like 
them, posting them in pairs in vantage- 
spots that would command the road with 
a deadly enfilade as often as word from 
the front came that progress would be 
checked. Many was the ball that sped 
from those sure men that found its mark 
in two, and thus did double duty; and 
ever as it sped the covering shot of the 
other man was withheld in steady reserve 
till the rammer ceased its ringing in the 
comrade’s barrel, and the patter of the 
priming powder told its tale. Then back 
like hounds to the sound of the horn they 
came when the march was resumed again, 
12 


178 


ON GUARD. 


a little blacker in the face from powder- 
stain, but with never a gap in their fighting- 
rank. And Lee’s gloomy brow cleared, 
and he was his cheery self again. These 
were the men to fight with in such war 
as this ! 

Once, nevertheless, the entire rear-guard 
received a terrible shock. Greene’s camp- 
fires were in sight ! As of old, Stuart’s 
men, tried and true, instantly closed up 
around their leader, and presently held out 
mute hands to one another for a farewell 
clasp; then silently awaited for the word 
which would mean for them the last grim 
fray of all while their comrades got away 
for future fighting. For them there would 
be no future. Stern Williams saw it as 
he came hurriedly back for a moment to 
see for himself how matters stood, and 
what might be the temper of these men; 
and he looked across at Lee, who nodded 
back, and something glittered strangely in 
the eyes of both ; something strange in 
warriors’ eyes. 

Then, thank God! back came splutter- 
ing and splashing from the front a horse- 


CHASING A SHADOW. 


179 


man with the word that the fires were two 
days old, kept alive for them by friendly 
countrymen; and a heartfelt cheer rolled 
upward. Greene was safe, then, still ! 
Men wept for thankfulness just then, and 
hurried on the faster through the mud and 
mist. Another night, another day, then — 
hurrah ! A courier ! A courier ! And, with a 
hand that slightly trembled, Williams held 
the dispatch dated from Irvin’s Ferry that 
afternoon at 2 p. m. : 

“ The greater 'part of our wagons are over and 
the troops are crossing.'*^ 

And later yet came that blessed message 
dated 5.50 p. m. : 

All our troops are over^ and the stage is 
clear. The infantry will cross here and the 
horse helow,^^ 

Then indeed were the cheers heard far 
down the British line, as they plodded on 
and wondered what caused such exceeding 
joy in the land beyond. 

Hurrah for Greene ! Hurrah for Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Carrington, who had swept up 


180 


ON GUARD. 


every boat along the river for many a 
mile to supplement those which the general 
brought with him, and made such speedy 
ferriage possible ! And as the clumsy craft 
toiled finally across and the rear-guard 
reached the northern bank, above them 
loomed a frowning earthwork ; and above 
that they looked upon the dark eyes and 
darker hair of its maker, Kosciusko, prince 
of battle engineers. 

That night the curiously inclined saw 
the British watch-fires spring alight here 
and there along the southern bank, where 
there seemed to be neither joy nor revelry, 
but sullen gloom. But Stuart had seen 
them often, and he was not curious. Those 
who, like him, were not, that night slept 
long and sweetly; and among these, not 
one man among the rear-guard was counted 
out. Six hours’ sleep out of forty-eight, for 
half a week, left a deficit which had to be 
made up somehow, and there was no time 
for that beginning like the present. To a 
man they all began. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


GENERAL O’hARA GROWS CLASSICAL AT 
LORD EGERTON’S EXPENSE. 

N ight brings time for reflection as 
well as for rest ; and many a man 
in the earl’s array rolled himself in his 
blanket that eve at odds with himself and 
all the world ; filled with bitter mortifica- 
tion at being outmarched, and outgeneralled 
generally. And yet, the customary reveille 
having been omitted, scores of those same 
men awoke gently late the next morning, 
yawned, stretched luxuriously, and made 
pious remarks over their luck, after all, in 
having no more of that mud march to do 
just now. They were seasoned veterans, 
every one. By breakfast time they began 
to take yet more cheerful views. At break- 
fast they began to be wildly exultant, for 
they had driven Greene out of the Carolinas. 


182 


ON GUARD. 


Thus gradually comprehension reaches some 
men’s minds by a slow and sure if lengthy 
process. 

By far the earliest to reach the above 
comfortable conclusion was Lord Cornwal- 
lis, optimist, and his beaming face gave 
zest to the meal at the officers’ mess. 

Congratulations, gentlemen ! It has 
been no light task to drive a man of Mr. 
Greene’s calibre clear across the Carolinas 
and beyond the border. It was work for 
men of iron with nerves of steel, and well 
and bravely has the task been done. Now, 
with the oppressor gone, our loyal friends 
will come out from their hiding-places and 
flock to the standard of their king. There 
is work to be done yet ; and this is too bar- 
ren and uncomfortable a place for it. After 
a rest we will retire to Hillsborough, and 
issue our proclamations from there.” 

Our loss has been surprisingly low, 
all things considered,” observed Lieutenant- 
Colonel Webster, reflectively, with a smile. 

This time Egerton saved his escort.” 

But he lost Jackson ! ” was the instant 
cry from a dozen voices, and the young 


GENERAL o’hARA GROWS CLASSICAL. 183 


lieutenant turned red under the laughter, 
but promptly rallied to the charge. 

Laugh away, gentlemen, laugh away ! 
The Dan is broad and rapid. But when 
you ride abroad, fail not to offer prayers to 
both Mars and Mercury — to the god of 
battles and the god of thieves — to keep 
far from you their Yankee followers; for 
experientia docet that it was easier for 
Orpheus to get Eurydice even halfway 
out of Hades than for us to wrest a cap- 
tive from the grasp of that tawny wolf 
we’ve chased so far. After what I’ve 
seen, I ’m willing to admit that when I 
meet him next I want my clansmen at my 
back ! ” — at which frank statement of 
opinion a general laugh went round. 

I always thought that Eurydice was 
supposed to have been a remarkably pretty 
young woman,” began O’Hara, deliberately, 
with a judicial air that was imposing, com- 
ing from him. ^^Now Jackson had his 
good points, I will admit. He would even 
pass muster as a good-sized Ganymede in 
war-time, when one is not too particular 
and looks to results. But Jackson as Eury- 


184 


ON GUAKD. 


dice, — ye gods ! not within for-r-rty inches 
round the waist does he come to fit that 
role. Egerton, dear, it ’s better taste I ’d 
heard ye had, and it ’s disappointed in ye 
that I am. But what ’s become of Captain 
Miller? He’s dropped out of sight en- 
tirely, men and all, as though the earth 
had swallowed them.” 

There was a sudden silence, during which 
men avoided looking at one another. The 
earth had indeed swallowed Miller’s men 
to a large extent, and Lord Cornwallis 
personally had supervised the burial of 
eighteen of them, found lifeless in the 
track of Lee’s Legion. As to Miller, that 
indeed, was a problem for some days, when 
a letter from him found its way to the earl, 
who read it with a disturbed countenance, 
and passed it around among his officers 
until it came to Tarleton, whose comment 
was an emphatically wrathful oath. What- 
ever the note contained, from that time on- 
ward there was a marked inclination on 
the part of the earl’s men to give quarter 
when they could ; and such sudden refor- 
mations imply strong, personal reasons. 


GENERAL o’hARA GROWS CLASSICAL. 185 

as of men considerate of the wrath to 
come. 

However, opportunities for it more thickly 
studded the somewhat remote past than 
the immediate future, and the earl’s hopes 
of a loyalist uprising experienced a frost 
in all their budding innocence; for, sud- 
denly, the men ceased to come. Then, full 
soon, to his amazement, a battered group 
of them appeared, complaining bitterly of 
Tarleton ! Three hundred of them had 
greeted him with joyous welcome, they 
said, and suddenly swords flashed and fell, 
and in a second or two, ninety or more 
loyalists went down, while the rest fled for 
their lives, and barely saved them. It took 
no small argument to convince them that 
Tarleton had been elsewhere, and that in 
fact they had fallen in with that swarthy 
continental Lee ! 

Before many days the reports of like 
frays on all sides around him told their 
tale of war, and that Greene again was over 
the Dan! Call in Tarleton! Kemember 
Ferguson ! This is no time for light troops 
to be straying! And courier after courier 


186 


ON GUARD. 


sped away at their utmost speed, lest once 
more a Cowpens, or a King’s Mountain af- 
fair might happen. And then, after days 
of anxious fencing in the narrow triangle 
between the rivers, the earl found Greene 
just where Greene elected to be found, at 
Guilford, on ground which, weeks back, he 
had so carefully gone over with Stuart 
Schuyler by his side, had looked upon as a 
prospective battle-field, and had found it 
good. But this came later. Meanwhile, 
the earl knew without question that there 
were hawks abroad, also owls. 

Indeed, one night when he himself sud- 
denly made an unexpected march for New 
Garden, where he might hope to obtain 
supplies, his baggage train got lost in the 
dark and rain, and wandered into a road 
leading no one of the escort knew whither, 
beyond the fact that it certainly did not 
lead where they wanted to go ; and great 
was their disturbance of mind. For they 
heard suspicious noises afar in the dark- 
ness, and they marched with anxious hearts 
till they dared to tramp no more, but halted 
for daylight to throw some light on the 


GENERAL o’hARA GROWS CLASSICAL. 187 

subject. And well they might be worried, 
for Lee, that lover of darkness, got wind of 
their mistake, and promptly set forth with 
his Legion to ^^lead them into the right 
road ; ”and to the inextinguishable laughter 
next day of the whole continental army, plus 
the militia, Lee got lost as well ! and spent 
the night wandering around from cross- 
road to cross-road till he ended where he 
started, a mortified colonel, with an exceed- 
ingly sheepish and disgusted set of men, 
while the horses looked as they felt — 
unhappy. 

Now, even a troop like Lee’s could not 
cross country with the silence of mist, nor 
hover round a man like Cornwallis unob- 
served by that keen leader; and the earl 
was perturbed. It had become largely a 
commissariat question. Supplies were get- 
ting low, and his supporting expedition and 
depot was on the coast at Wilmington, 
many a league away. A battle, to end the 
situation, had become for him a military 
necessity; hence it was with real relief 
that he welcomed Smallhorn, as the scout- 
master one morning suddenly presented 


188 


ON GUARD. 


himself, in uneasy awe of the earl’s great- 
ness, yet brimming with useful information. 

Suddenly presented himself” is per- 
haps not just the most accurate way of 
putting it. It might be more correct to 
say that he was presented, pushed, pro- 
pelled thither by an exceedingly rapid 
course of events. Far away to the north- 
ward dropping shots had been heard at 
irregular intervals, and as such matters 
have more significance in war than in 
partridge-time a squadron of Tarleton’s 
men were sent to investigate. Ere long, 
as they turned into a long, straight stretch 
of fence-lined road they became aware of the 
thundering approach of a splendid horse 
at its utmost speed, with a man low lying 
along its back, whose wishes far outran his 
progress, for whom the flying carpet of 
the Arabian Nights, had he ever heard 
of it, would not have been too speedy. 
Nor was the reason far to seek. In fact, 
for the fugitive it was altogether too near 
for comfort. Well in his rear, yet gaining 
at every leap, and fairly flying, came the 
black steed and his daring rider, that 


GENERAL o’hARA GROWS CLASSICAL. 189 

Tarleton’s troopers knew so well, backed 
by a little escort of horsemen outpaced in 
the distance; and great was the sensation 
among the dragoons ! 

Into the bushes by the roadside they 
hustled, r-rip! Crash! Jam the spurs in! 
Any way to get out of sight 1 And foot by 
foot the fugitive was falling back, foot 
by foot the pursuer was creeping up, creep- 
ing up, till now the one in front could 
hear the rapid beat of the hoofs behind 
him clearer and clearer through the thun- 
der of those beneath ; and he cast a hope- 
less glance ahead, showing a white face 
full of agonized fear as he whistled past 
the ambushed squadron like a wild duck 
past a gunner’s blind. Stir the mettle of 
the steeds ! Ready for the dash 1 And with 
quick, eager, exultant looks the troopers 
waited to spring their unexpectedly set 
and baited trap. What luck it would be 
for Tarleton ! 

On came Tartar — a little farther and 
it would be time 1 — then like a bird in 
full flight he swerved from the narrow 
road and cleared the fence as swiftly as a 


190 


ON GUARD. 


deer, lost to sight on the instant among 
the thickets ; and when the dazed troopers 
recovered their wits enough to look, the 
road beyond was empty — not a soul in 
sight, the horsemen vanished as though 
fences were not, and the whole seemed 
like a fitful dream; save only the beat 
of the feet of the fugitive’s horse, growing 
fainter and fainter southward as he fled. 

Then the men looked at each other, 
reflected long enough to fully sense the 
situation, and swore — like troopers. 

And that was how Smallhorn had found 
his way back to friends again. It was 
well for him that they were not much 
farther away. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


GUILFORD. 

T hen Mr. Greene means to fight at 
last, Smallhorn ? 

He suht’nly do, sah ! He ’s been gittin’ 
holt of lots of men, sich as they are, an’ 
has rolled up quite a sizable sort of an 
army. About two to our one, er reckon. 
Thar’s a General Butler with the No’th 
Carliny milish, an’ a Virginny state 
regiment, an’ a lot o’ Virginny eighteen 
months’ men, an’ some say three thousand 
Virginny milish ; an’ some recruits ter fill 
up the Maryland reg’lars. Oh, yes, he ’s 
got a lot ! But they kain’t fight like we- 
uns. Not nohow ! But they mean ter 
hev a try.” 

Where is he now ? ” 

He was a-headin’ fer Guilford, sah, 
when I left, an’ er reckon he’ll about git 
thar by sundown. Hit’s twelve mile off 


192 


ON GUARD. 


tharaway, an’ he ’ll most likely halt thar, 
all but his critter fellers. Doggone ’em ! ” 
and Smallhorn’s face wore a sudden ex- 
pression of intense malignity. They 
chased me an’ chased me ; an’ if I had n’t 
picked up one o’ their good bosses in 
swap fer my own, I ’d never seen you-all 
ag’in, er reckon ! ” 

The horse in question bore ample evi- 
dence that it had certainly been ridden 
fast and far, and having extracted all the 
information, geographical and otherwise, 
that the scoutmaster could give, the earl 
dismissed him with a reward, and when 
next seen Smallhorn was in earnest con- 
fabulation with Lieutenant-Colonel Tarle- 
ton over some subject in which they 
appeared to be mutually interested. By 
nightfall further word had come fully 
corroborating Smallhorn’s reports. 

There was a bustle indeed on that next 
March morning. The air was cold enough 
to be bracing, the roads were stiff and 
hard, and at daybreak the entire British 
force, except the scant baggage-guard, was 
marching swiftly Guilfordward. If Mr.” 


GUILFORD. 


193 


Greene really was available for a fight. 
Lord Cornwallis would lose no time in 
gratifying so praiseworthy a desire ! And 
rapidly the miles were left behind. 

Nevertheless, Smallhorn’s opinion of the 
^‘critter fellers” was shared by his com- 
mander, and Tarleton was kept well to 
the fore to give ample warning of any 
signs of Lee and those like him. A column 
in march is an easy mark for a charge in 
flank if cavalry get the chance, as many 
a commander since has found in those 
same regions. 

Moreover, there were not wanting signs 
that long before light they had been under 
observation. Patrol after patrol on the 
outlying flanks reported the presence of 
a small party of dragoons, led by a 
stocky, wary individual who successfully 
evaded every chance of getting into 
close quarters, yet displayed an incon- 
venient Yankee curiosity as to what was 
going on behind that thin curtain of 
British cavalry. As late as two in the 
morning he had been seen imposing silence 
on his troop with an imperative gesture, 

13 


194 


OK GUARD. 


and listening with an intentness of atti- 
tude that needed no interpreter beyond 
the faint rumble of the earl’s artillery 
wheels coming faintly through the night ; 
listening until for once the horsemen of 
Tarleton thought that perhaps their chance 
had come, and made a dash at the daring 
officer; yet at the last moment possible, 
round whirled the dark horse as on a pivot, 
and in a twinkling a thicket concealed the 
entire troop, which thicket the pursuers 
found masked a tree-lined road, down 
which they were too wise to follow. 
Then, in the distance, rose the rapid beat 
of a horse’s feet going at full gallop, grow- 
ing fainter and fainter, till the dull throb- 
bing died into silence. And when told 
of this the earl knew well that a courier 
was speeding on to warn the continental 
army. 

Well, let them be warned, if only they 
will stand. 

And warned they were, as Tarleton him- 
self was the next to find ! For within four 
miles of Guilford his horsemen came face 
to face with a small troop of dragoons 


GUILFORD. 


195 


which promptly wheeled and trotted away, 
followed cautiously for a space until they 
joined a larger force, when all sharply has- 
tened their speed in a regular scurry. 

This was just what the lieutenant-colonel 
liked, and had taken good advantage of in 
many a case before. 

After them, men ! ” he shouted, spur- 
ring his horse forward, yet keeping its head 
with an iron hand. After them! Now 
is our time to give them cold steel 1 ’’ 

And so indeed it seemed I When sud- 
denly, like the sticks of a fan, the troop 
ahead flung itself into radiating groups 
that opened out far enough to wheel, then 
turned and plunged with a sudden front 
straight at the head of the British column. 
Down went the weaker horses under the 
trampling hoofs, while the flash of mus- 
ketry on either side betokened unseen rifle- 
men; and the bleat of a battered bugle 
gave Tarleton’s signal to retreat, leaving 
some thirty or more of his men beneath 
their horses in that narrow, fence-lined 
lane. 

Then indeed there was a wild scamper 


196 


GUARD. 


back to the protecting British lines, fol- 
lowed by the dragoons of Lee as soon 
as they could get out of the lane which 
they themselves had blocked with their 
own swords, with the riflemen racing 
alongside to get in if possible one more 
shot — and losing some of their number, 
later, as a result of their own eagerness. 
Oh, yes, there was no doubt that Mr. 
Greene was wide awake and waiting ! 
But, so much the better, as the earl had 
said. Then came the real check, and Lord 
Cornwallis knew that his task was now be- 
fore him ; and as he glanced over his vet- 
eran army, each man a host in himself, he 
never felt more calmly confident. 

They are before us, at last, gentle- 
men ! ’’ he said quietly, his eye taking a 
keener gleam as the experienced general 
scanned the terrain before him. 

Straight in front ran the Salisbury 
road, down which they had been march- 
ing, and in the near distance rose the 
smoke and the sullen thunder of a couple of 
guns, the round shot plunging down the 
road toward them as an imperative com- 


GUILFORD. 


197 


mand to halt, while along yonder fence 
that crossed the fields there was a twinkle 
of steel here and there. 

Colonel, be good enough to send patrols 
across these maize fields on either side, and 
ascertain if the woods which flank them 
are accessible to artillery and horse,” was 
the earFs command ; and swift spurred 
away the men of Tarleton on their possibly 
perilous errand, while the earl resumed his 
examination of the field. Back came the 
scouts at racing speed to report the forest as 
impervious ; and then with a superb con- 
fidence in his men, true and tried. Lord 
Cornwallis swung them into line of battle ; 
the cavalry massed in column in the road 
for lack of proper room for service, but 
aside from that, without one man of his 
little army in reserve. 

It ’s the earl who knows what we can 
do, men,” said O’Hara, with a laugh, as he 
led his troops to his place on the left flank 
in support of Webster. ‘^It’s fight ye 
must this day, for if ye want to run, there’s 
no place to run to ! ” and hearty was their 
reassuring cheer. Then came the heavy 


198 


ON GUARD. 


boom of the earl’s answering guns as they 
in their turn hurled their defiant shot 
into the insulting battery beyond ; and 
with Leslie’s men on the right in even line 
and colours flying, the brave advance began. 

Tramp ! tramp ! tramp ! went their feet 
in perfect time across the field, as the men 
bent forward to their march with faces set 
and hard; and soon here and there from 
the fence-line low-lying among the briars a 
nervous militia-man poked up his head and 
took a hasty, unavailing shot, then crept 
out astern with speed. 

Present ! ” came the ringing order along 
the line of red, and down to a level, breast 
high, fell the muskets. 

‘^Fire!” and the red flame flashed and 
the smoke spurted out and rolled upward 
in a cloud. 

Fix bayonets ! ” 

Then came the rattle of steel, the swift 
click-click as the deadly daggers were set 
in their sockets — and beyond that the 
heroic militia in front of Leslie on the right 
did not wait to see. Tailing out backwards, 
they streamed away for the rear, while the 


GUILFORD. 


199 


air was full of guns and canteens thrown 
away, both of them loaded in many a case, 
in proof of their owner’s valiant state of 
mind ; and Homeric laughter rose from the 
British line as it plunged with cheers in 
chase. Out from the thickets on the right 
darted a mounted officer with eyes aflame, 
and sought to rally the cowards with word 
and blow, but all in vain; and the fence- 
line was gained and won. Huzza 1 

But what is this ! On either flank comes 
the sudden roar of rifles, and a leaden hail 
searching the exultant lines that halt, for 
a breath, irresolute. That is not militia 
work. And see, they are horsemen ! 

A fire in flank — how many men can 
stand it ? But the men in that thin battle 
line are men ! and with them rides a gen- 
. eral. Eight, left, round as on pivots wheel 
the nearest regiments like levers in a huge 
machine, and plunge straight at their new 
foe, and the roar of battle is redoubled; 
while into the gap left by the flight plunge 
the rest of Leslie’s men, thus cutting off 
the left wing of their enemy from their 
friends. And thus far all goes well. 


200 


ON GUARD. 


But the earFs brow is corrugated, for the 
uproar on his left is waxing, and it is easy 
to tell the deadly crackle of the rifles from 
the duller boom of the overcharged muskets 
that sent many a shot skyward which was 
intended for a lower mark. Webster was 
being hard pressed, beyond a doubt, on front 
and flank as well. 

Lord Egerton ! Present my compli- 
ments to Brigadier-General O’Hara and 
direct him to advance to the support of 
Colonel Webster,” said Cornwallis, sharply, 
and there was a sputter of hoofs as the 
lieutenant sped away on his mission. The 
air was filled with the whistle and hiss of 
bullets as he crossed the field, for many a 
rifleman wasted a shot upon that tempting 
mark. 

Now, boys, it is our tur-rn ! ” cried 
O’Hara, joyously, and with a rush and 
cheer they crashed through the thickets 
and smashed in the enemy’s flank. The 
rifles ceased save here and there, and with 
a smile of satisfaction the earl gave his 
brief commands, and forward swept the 
British line against the next array. All 


GUILFORD. 


201 


is going well. And more, for on the right 
the enemy are clearly yielding, yielding, and 
the thunder of the battery there has ceased 
as Leslie’s men swarm over it, and hurl 
backward the supporting troops. 

But what of the left? No colonel has 
Cornwallis better than Webster. No gen- 
eral ever had one, and what he cannot do 
cannot be done. Why then that frightful 
uproar that has risen as sharply as a 
thunder-cloud upon the left ? High above 
the tumult rise the yells of men not yet 
beaten, wilder, shriller than the British 
cheer, and the vortex of the fight that at 
first swayed forward is just as surely sway- 
ing backward, and soon comes a breathless 
messenger to say that Webster has been 
driven back across the ravine which he had 
forced. He can hold his own on the ridge, 
but that is all. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


THE TURNING OF THE BATTLE-TIDE. 

I LL indeed on that day fared the gallant 
Webster. As when a hunter driving in 
a knife through yielding flesh puts forth 
needless strength, then strikes against a 
bone, and at the shock the steel’s keen 
edge is splintered; so Webster had plunged 
through the stubborn, yet yielding Virginia 
militia, only to run against the iron line 
of the Maryland regiment of regulars 
under Colonel Gunby, whose steady dis- 
cipline matched his own, whose marksman- 
ship was better. Thus far might he go, 
but no farther. And now all the line of 
battle was broken up into detachments 
like the facets on a polygon, each where 
the grinding power of battle-shock had 
left it. 

Leslie on the right found the 2nd Mary- 
land giving way, and O’Hara plunged 


THE TURNING OF THE BATTLE-TIDE. 203 

to help the thrust, along with Stuart 
of the Guards, when short round turned 
Gunby’s men from his battle with Webster 
and smashed down on their flank, led by 
Howard of Cowpens’ fame ; and cling ! 
clang ! into the fight,” as by magic 
sprang the cavalry of Washington with 
their burly colonel at their head, and 
Schuyler at his side ! Stroke on stroke 
their swords were flashing. Then under 
their plunging hoofs the leader of the 
Guards went down, and the men in red 
around him were hurled one against an- 
other, backward, ever backward, over the 
captured guns, disorganized, in mad con- 
fusion and retreat. Never was tide of 
battle more quickly turned to a flood the 
other way ! Slash ! slash ! fell the sabres 
swung by brawny arms that never tired ! 
And shoulder to shoulder with the very 
horses Howard’s men thrust the dripping 
bayonets. 

And backward, backward, they forced 
the broken ranks of red, leaving the 
ground red and redder yet beneath them 
as they passed, and no regiment in reserve 


204 


ON GUARD. 


remained to give them succour. A little 
more, and those wild horsemen would 
swing to the right and take in reverse the 
remnant of the British line. They must — 
they must be checked ! 

There was but one thing left to do. 
Straight for the knoll in the rear where 
O’Hara of the artillery was stationed rode 
Cornwallis, as never in the past had he 
ridden to hounds, without swerving to right 
or left for stump or stone. No aide must 
carry this order ! His the task, the dire 
responsibility ; and with a look that com- 
pelled obedience he gave the terrible com- 
mand : 

Open on them at once ! ” 

It is destroying our own men ! ” 
gasped O’Hara, the general, even as his 
brother sprang to obey. 

I see it ! But it must be, to avert 
destruction ! ” 

And whiter yet, with his own blood 
staining the ground, with his own hands 
the young artillerist helped the toiling 
gunners, and instantly the knoll shook 
with the thunder of their leaping guns 


THE TURNING OF THE BATTLE-TIDE. 205 

as they blew away the curtain of British 
soldiery, their own comrades ! — and rained 
their deadly hail unimpeded through and 
through the charging foe, and checked 
their charge right there. Nothing could 
stand before that hail ! Right and left the 
survivors scattered ; and with magnificent 
courage and discipline the shattered British 
regiments coalesced, and like Saxons of old 
lined up on the crown of the little knoll, 
still quivering with the roar of the artillery. 
But one in every four lay motionless 
here and there among the stubble and the 
leafless woods ! 

So sudden, so swift had been the charges, 
that to Egerton, as he dashed hither and 
yon on the earnest errands of his hard- 
tried chief, they seemed as fleeting as cloud 
shadows chasing each other down a moun- 
tain on a sunny day ; the flight of the first 
line of North Carolinians on the right, the 
stubbornness of the Virginians on the left, 
the sudden roar of the cavalry ambush on 
both flanks, the British swing to face, the 
yielding of the right of the second hostile 
line, the new uproar on the left, the closing 


206 


ON GUARD. 


in so suddenly of troops flung like a shuttle 
from left to right, and the crushing of 
Leslie and O’Hara in consequence, were all 
swift shifting of scenes leading tragically 
upward to that last dread scene of all — 
the opening of the guns, beneath which at 
this moment O’Hara of the artillery lay 
dead, while his brother, the general, on the 
mound was having stanched two danger- 
ous wounds. Riderless horses galloped 
here and there with reins and stirrups 
flying ; and even as he cast his hurried 
glance over the fleld toward Webster’s 
ravine, in an intersecting branch of which 
the mounted scouts were being sheltered, 
he was aware of a little group of cavalry 
galloping through the savins toward them 
on some reconnoitring errand, one of 
whom rode a fine black horse. 

There was an instant stir among the 
mounted scouts, and when the little party 
thus boldly spying were abreast of the 
clump of firs that masked them, with a 
start that told how deeply the spurs were 
driven, out darted Smallhorn and his men 
upon their prey. A stroke for a fortune ! 


THE TURNING OF THE BATTLE-TIDE. 207 

And foeman though he was, Lord Egerton 
fairly shouted a warning, as though it 
could be heard from where he stood. 

No need ! What was it that his old es- 
cort sergeant, Wilde had said in days long 
by about that fellow in dun yellow — “ he 
must have ears like some wild thing ’’ ? 
Smallhorn’s hand had gone up as a com- 
mand, and — did it rub against his coat ? 
Did some bridle-ring clink against a bit, 
or scabbard jingle ? No matter ! Not half 
a second after that arm was raised the 
officer on the black gave a quick, flirting 
signal, and instantly, like grouse that rise 
with startling rush and roar, each man of 
his little escort was flying at full speed 
backward through the savins, low lying 
along his horse’s neck lest bullets come ; 
and better riders than those Southern lads 
it would be hard indeed to find. But the 
man on the black was not thus flying ; for 
his horse stumbled, ever so slightly, against 
a root, and checked his turn ; and even as 
Smallhorn’s trusted lieutenants, Batt and 
Quin, cleared the firs they saw the black 
standing motionless ; and Egerton from 


208 


ON GUARD. 


his post saw two sudden puffs of smoke 
spurt out, and the two scouts pitch forward 
suddenly, as a wild duck does when in full 
flight he meets the ambushed gunner’s 
shot. 

Then came the dull reports like a quick 
double knock on the clanging door of 
Hades. The scouts could be seen to scatter 
for a moment. There was a flash and glitter. 
The black suddenly leaped into life, then 
right across the plain from side to side 
they swept in a whirring, scintillating little 
cloud of horsemen, with one great black 
steed marking its very heart, from out 
which, sideways, at what seemed every 
second, a riderless horse darted, or one 
carrying a rider who wavered aimlessly 
to and fro, and presently slid gently down 
to earth; while the group grew less and 
less until at last it vanished in the op- 
posite woods. Then Lord Egerton drew a 
long breath, and wondered if after all, it 
was not all a dream. 

But no ! Or if so, here it is in part again, 
for out from the woods come three or four 
horsemen riding recklessly, with their chins 


THE TURNING OF THE BATTLE-TIDE. 209 

on their shoulders and with their faces 
convulsed with baffled rage. 

Straight up the hill they rode, Smallhorn 
himself, and what were left of his men ; and 
forcing his way in to where Lieutenant- 
Colonel Tarleton was consulting with Gen- 
eral O’Hara while his troop yet remained 
at ease in the road below, he seized the 
colonel’s horse’s bridle and forcibly led him 
out into the open, ignoring all discipline, 
evidently nearly beside himself with rage. 

Look thar ! an’ thar ! an’ thar ! ” he 
cried, pointing to a long straight line of 
bodies that reached at intervals clear across 
the plain. ^‘Thar’s Batt, an’ Quin, an’ 
the rest o’ my men lyin’ thar. An’ that ’s 
what a man gits what bargains with the 
devil. Look at hyar ! ” — holding up his 
favourite rifle — cut half through clean ter 
the bore, an’ then the blow kim down hard 
enough ter take off my ear an’ split my 
shoulder-bone. That shows what we-uns 
fit against. Thar ain’t no bargain mo’. 
I ’m shet of it,” and he sullenly backed his 
horse away and waited the rejoinder, all 
dyed as he was with red. But Tarleton, 

14 


210 


ON GUAKD. 


his own hand bandaged from a wound, 
eyed him for a moment as one in a daze, 
and said never a word. 

Then Lord Egerton rode out, and gently 
took Smallhorn’s bridle and led him away 
to where the surgeons were already at work, 
while the fire died out from the angry eyes 
and the head drooped wearily on the breast ; 
for, up to his lights, Smallhorn had done 
his best. And Tarleton still said never a 
word of explanation in regard to a scene 
that was utterly incomprehensible to the 
rest ; and presently they all had something 
else to think of, for the indomitable battle- 
roar had begun again. 

Dress rank, men ! Close up ! Close 
up ! Load ! Prime ! ” came the orders 
swift. 

However, it proved to be but a mask, 
under cover of which or during which it 
was evident that the enemy were retiring. 
The men that had broken too far outnum- 
bered the men that had fought ; and it was 
clear that Greene was content to let the 
battle end right there. And well he might, 
thought the earl in silence, as he gazed with 


THE TURNING OP THE BATTLE-TIDE. 211 

mingled pride and grief at the brave, un- 
conquered ranks of his sturdy soldiery — 
now, alas ! so sadly few, — then at the host 
of motionless witnesses to the power of rebel 
ball and blade. Nevertheless, to make 
sure, Tarleton was directed to follow cau- 
tiously, taking with him a couple of regi- 
ments of infantry, whose muskets might 
stand off some ambushed countermove. 
But after a march of three miles, feeling 
his way with circumspection, there was no 
room for doubt that the continentals had 
retired, leaving to Cornwallis the barren 
honour of the field. Again the earl shook 
his head sadly as he counted the cost ; and 
again, yet more sadly when they brought in 
to him Webster, the brave, courteous gen- 
tleman, deep smitten with a wound, and 
name after name of loved brothers-in-arms 
at roll-call was not answered. And three 
days later saw him marching for Wilming- 
ton on the coast, leaving his severely 
wounded to the care of General Greene — 
and wondering how soon it would be before 
the continental would be following him. 
He wondered quite a while, for Greene had 


212 


ON GUARD. 


better business southward down through 
the Carolinas, from whence he had just been 
chased. Lee and his Legion alone must fol- 
low close, to keep the earl’s mind occupied, 
leaving Greene to his own work. 

That work must yet be done — to clear 
out the British that were left, and Corn- 
wallis with only sixteen hundred valiant 
men now was out of that game ; for what 
was sixteen hundred ? Little more than 
one full regiment strong. He must go 
somewhere else, even if it be but to sail for 
Charleston and begin all over again ; and 
his pride was too great for that. 


CHAPTER XX. 


HOW STUART SCHUYLER MEETS OLD AC- 
QUAINTANCES, WHOM HE HELPED TO 
GATHER IN. 

A LARGE canvas-topped wagon stood 
peacefully before the door of a modest 
mansion, watched over by an alert sentinel. 
The gaunt males harnessed to it now and 
then playfully nibbled at each other’s ears, 
eliciting squeals of protest, unheeding the 
negro driver’s exhortation to Quit now, 
Suke ! ” till emphasized by a crack of the 
ready lash. Under the canvas in a com- 
fortably swung cot, but strapped and band- 
aged criss-cross everywhere, save about the 
head, Stuart lay placidly staring up at the 
twig-shadows overhead, when the flap of 
the wagon-tent was thrust aside, and Tom 
Ludlow swung hastily in. 

Good boy, Tom ! I was afraid I ’d be 
sent off without seeing you.” 


214 


ON GUARD. 


The voice was low, but as cheery as ever ; 
yet something choked the utterance of both 
the young fellows, and it was some mo- 
ments before Tom found his voice at all. 
Even then it sounded like a misfit voice, 
borrowed from somebody else about half 
his size. 

Stuart, this is fiendish, to see you cut 
up so ! However did you get clear ? ” 

Don’t fret, old fellow. It looks worse 
than it is. None of the slashes got in very 
deep, thanks partly to the toughness of 
Gavin Paynt’s present, my deerskin hunt- 
ing-shirt. I’m laced up like a Yankee 
bedstead, I know ; but that is only to hasten 
matters. In a day or two I shall be on 
Tartar again.” 

Truly ? ” 

‘‘ Sirrah ! Do you doubt my word ? Learn 
then, minion, that I am actually in com- 
mand of this whole convoy of wounded and 
prisoners, and be respectful.” 

0 lordy, Stuart ! I ’ll be respectful 
enough when I can see enough of you to 
respect. Just now you look more like an 
Injun pappoose than a white man. But it 


SCHUYLER MEETS ACQUAINTANCES. 215 

was war to the knife between you and 
those fellows, sure ! 

Tories/’ said Stuart, contentedly. I’ve 
told you before what Carolina war is like. 
Don’t forget that it is ‘ no surrender ’ if 
you get into a hornet’s nest. For, after all, 
one may win through. Meanwhile, you 
can thank Tartar for me, if you are so 
inclined.” 

Hum ! I guess I ’ll save some thanks 
for that right arm of yours,” said Tom, 
with a sniff of disdain. ’ve seen it at 
work before ; also the results. But I ’m 
right glad the general is going to keep you 
out of mischief for one while, since I can’t 
be where I can look after you.” 

You start for the South, then ? ” 

Directly. The general, bless him ! is 
up to his eyes in business, yet took time to 
think I ’d like to see you first, and sent me 
after you the moment I struck the camp. 
I ’ve been with Lee, you know, watching 
’Wallis’s back. He has a beautiful back, 
Stuart. I quite admire it when the owner 
fronts seaward, and points his toes that 
way.” 


216 


ON GUAKD. 


It relieves my mind, too, somewhat,’’ 
and Stuart laughed a low, happy laugh. 

It ’s a good omen for you, Tom. You 
have n’t had a scratch since Stony Point. 
Now the pitcher that goes too oft to the 
well is bound to get smashed at last. So 
just to break the chain, it ’s well that you 
visit the ill for a space. But I shall miss 
you till we meet again ! ” 

Then the two shook hands again as boys 
of their breed will, and had a long, earnest 
talk before the awaited orders and men 
arrived, and they were parted. 

As Stuart had said, he was in command 
of the convoy. An easy journey through 
a friendly country made it practicable, and 
as the general sapiently observed, it saved 
a well man for the campaign. Then he 
added something significant about mention 
of some personal matters in his letters to 
General Washington, which had sent a 
tinge of colour into Stuart’s cheeks, as the 
giant form of his general bent over him 
in a kindly farewell. Small wonder that 
Greene’s men loved him! 

So Stuart thought, as he swung in his cot 


SCHUYLER MEETS ACQUAINTANCES. 217 

and listened lazily to the sleepy creak, 
creak of the whiffle-trees forward, and pres- 
ently fell asleep in good earnest. He had 
plenty of arrears in that line to make up. 

Still, as he predicted, in a day or two he 
was quite able to ride Tartar for an hour 
when weary of wagon work, the great 
horse’s easy, gliding stride swinging him 
onward without a jar ; and at all times he 
took an active share in the business in 
hand. It had been hard to say good-by to 
the iron-fisted mountaineers, Silas Turnip- 
seed, Rube Yadkin, Ike Yocum, and the 
others who had stood at his back so 
stanchly by night and day, through fire 
and fiood. But they were to go South with 
Tom where their rifles would be needed. 
Gavin Paynt alone remained. He was 
travelling, was seeing the world, and in 
consequence was very much set up.” 

The planters on the route were hospita- 
ble to a fault, and more than one soft- 
voiced daughter of the South was glad to 
entertain, and would not have regretted a 
longer stay. One, even, with many a secret 
shudder, sewed neatly the many rents in 


218 


ON GUARD. 


Stuart's fringed hunting-shirt, from whence 
the red stains had been discreetly cleansed ; 
and it gave him a shock of curious, shame- 
faced pleasure, later, to discover while on 
the march, that certain marks on the left 
breast proved really to be initials, neatly 
worked in with what was altogether too 
soft and silky to be thread. Nevertheless, at 
the next halt he spent some little time care- 
fully and ungratefully picking out that em- 
broidery with a knife-point. Perhaps it did 
not matter to an outsider, say. But — had 
it been Pearl Hathaway’s hair, now ! How- 
ever it was n’t, and that was the end of it. 
Other than hers he would not wear. 

In due time the wounded went one way ; 
the prisoners another, to Bedford in Vir- 
ginia ; and Stuart with the latter. On the 
way an idea had struck him, and at each 
halting-place he contrived to suggest that 
a plug of tobacco would not be amiss, omit- 
ting to state that personally he did not use 
the article. Ere they reached Bedford he 
had accumulated quite a store, including 
also a bulky bag of other matters. The 
men in the prison-camp looked comfortably 


SCHUYLER MEETS ACQUAINTANCES. 219 

housed in warm log huts, and were not ill- 
fed, as he could see. But they were hungry 
for news, and thronged clamorously around 
the newcomers. 

Fresh fish ! ” was the cry of greeting 
from inmate to new prisoners in that later 
rebellion in the South we know so well, 
and these too, you may be sure, were not 
without their own especial cheer. Stuart 
eyed them with some amusement, recogniz- 
ing here and there a familiar face. 

Yonder, hard-featured as ever, was old 
Wyeth, Tarleton’s sergeant, caught at the 
Blackstocks. Here was Wilde, of the 63d, 
— how well he recalled the uniform ! — 
with a knot of others from its rank and file ; 
Egerton’s escort, as he remembered, caught 
at the Cowpens; and many a slash still 
showed its scar upon their faces, mute testi- 
mony that not lightly had the plucky 
fellows yielded. And there were others, 
not noted in this chronicle, but each like a 
leaf in a book of history marking for him a 
turned page in the turbulent past, pages, 
too, now and then deeply scored with runes 
of war of his own writing. As he sat 


220 


ON GUARD. 


in his saddle where he could overlook them, 
the glossy form of Tartar caught their eyes, 
and instantly they set up a whoop of recog- 
nition, and looked higher, at his rider. 
Then there was a louder whoop and an 
instantaneous rush for him that brought the 
guard out in a twinkling, imagining that 
it was nothing less than a revolt, till reas- 
sured by the laughter mingled with their 
hearty yells. 

Jack Stuart ! ” The lad wot stole 
Tartar ! ” The devil in yellow ! ’’ — soldier- 
names do not always sound complimen- 
tary to the uninitiated ; yet every man 
in hearing seemed to be yelling a different 
name, from which Stuart might take his 
choice. But when, laughingly dismounting, 
he produced, first, enough plugs of that pre- 
cious tobacco to go entirely around among his 
flock, thus promoting the company instantly 
to the highest rank of military prison 
aristocracy, and followed it up by bringing 
to light from that bulky bag a corn-cob 
and a willow-twig from which he evolved 
before their eyes a practicable pipe as a 
model, their gratitude was almost pitiful, 


SCHUYLER MEETS ACQUAINTANCES. 221 

their enthusiasm unbounded. The sus- 
picious guards were more than half in- 
clined to arrest Stuart himself on the 
spot, as an ultra loyalist. But they had 
not been years at the front in battle-flame, 
and knew naught of the hearty respect 
and fellowship that lives between two 
sturdy fighters of Northmen- Saxon breed 
when once the fight is fairly done. 

Best of all, when their pipes were going, 
with a kindly instinctive feeling as to what 
would give most pleasure, he sat down on a 
blanket in the midst of them, and with his 
old, familiar sketch-map on the ground, he 
went over all the war since the time of the 
oldest inhabitant's imprisonment; and — 
which they were most particular about — 
gave the latest news concerning Lord Eger- 
ton, for whom one and all seemed to have a 
deep and most respectful affection. Not 
only were they under his command, but many 
grew up as boys with him under the hoary 
walls of Dunmere, far across the seas. And 
tears of joy were winked from more than 
one eye at the word that young muster " 
had been seen so lately, safe and well. 


222 


OK GUARD. 


Stay — there was one exception — Jack- 
son, who glowered at his captor from afar, 
sullenly accepted the plug conveyed to him 
by a comrade (who took toll on the way) 
when Stuart ’s ever- watchful eyes discov- 
ered him — but otherwise refused further 
to be pacified. Nor would he join the 
group, even to learn the news, eying those 
broad shoulders of the youthful major, 
nevertheless, with a feeling which with him 
did duty for awe. Matters of mind did not 
concern him greatly. Matters of muscle 
did ; and involuntarily certain portions of 
his surface stung again as though once 
more in the bear-trap grasp that had 
printed his figure at full length in the 
stubborn clay by that distant roadside, and 
then had helped him, will he, nill he, 
across the dark and swirling Yadkin, believ- 
ing, each moment, that for him it was to 
be the river Styx. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


IN WHICH OCCURS A LITTLE HISTORY. 



HAT next ? 


▼ Y That was a conundrum which many 
an officer of Cornwallis’s command asked 
himself or others as they strolled down to 
the turbid water of Cape Fear River, and 
snapped chips in, or gazed meditatively at 
the supply vessels swinging idly with the 
tide. How suggestive of home the latter 
seemed ! 

Rest, of course, must come first. But 
after that, what ? 

“ For once a bit river is vara well in its 
way behind us,” remarked General Leslie, 
sniffing hungrily the salt air from the sea. 
“ With the bridge down, ’twill maybe keep 
Lee and his legion of deevils far frae us, an’ 
gi’e us a whole night’s sleep on end.” 

It ’s not so sure of that I am, Leslie. 
Yon river is n’t holy wather, by the powers 1 


224 


OK GUARD. 


’T is a trifle too muddy for that. If Lee 
wants to cross, Lee will cross, do ye mind, 
if he has to fly like a bat. An’ sure, ’t is 
the earl that wants him to do that same.” 

How ’s that, O’Hara ? ” 

<< Why, therein lies the answer to your 
question of ^what nixt?’ We’ve got 
Greene at last out of the Carolinas, haven’t 
we ? Now thin, that is n’t the end. We Ve 
not only got him out, but we ’ve got to kape 
him out, else we ’ll have to go back to 
Charleston and begin all over again ; and 
what then would become of the earl’s pro- 
clamations of the peace he ’s been afther 
bringing to the loyalists of this benighted 
country ? Now, Smallhorn, that honest, one- 
eared pay-triot with a tied-up shoulder, 
says Greene already has started South with 
intint to ate up Lord Kawdon — raw. 
May he find him tough ! So it ’s in me 
mind that the earl means to practice medi- 
cine on a gr-r-rand scale. There ’s a bit of 
an inflammation, say, down in the Caro- 
linas that might grow dangerous. So he ’ll 
jist apply a lively blister to the chist of 
the country, Virginia, to draw it off. An’ 


A LITTLE HISTORY. 225 

'tis we that’ll be the mustard for that 
plaster, I ’m thinkin’.” 

That ’ll please Tarleton, there ’s no 
doubt about that.” 

What will ? ” demanded that individ- 
ual, coming up from the rear. If there 
is any pleasure in store for me that you 
know of, give me all the pleasure of antici- 
pation you can, I beg of you. Realization, 
I find, is an elusive bird, sometimes.” 

It is that ! but the pleasure — ” 

great raid of the whole army up 
through the heart of Virginia, Tarleton. 
How does that suit you ? ” 

That lover of horses smiled a winning 
smile at the prospect of a military jaunt 
through the land whence the good steeds 
come, for it had immense possibilities in 
the cattle-lifting line. 

Why can’t we chase the rebels direct, 
and hunt them down like foxes ? ” asked an 
impetuous junior, one of those lads who 
learn nothing from experience when the 
matter is really past. A burst of ironical 
laughter followed. 

My dear boy ! you know by this time 


15 


226 


ON GUARD. 


what a muskato is ? Did you iver try to 
chase one through a swamp? Did you 
catch it? Or did its mates catch you? 
No, indade ! By this time to-morrow Mr. 
Greene has sunk or smashed ivery boat on 
the route, barrin’ those he's taken with 
him, and there 's rivers and creeks un- 
counted between here and Lord Rawdon. 
A fox-hunt like that would lave you as thin 
as the gineral here. By that same token, 
Leslie, you are not lookin' well, I 'm 
thinkin'." 

Then my looks do not lie," was the 
prompt reply. The medico says I must 
leave this climate at once, so I am to take 
the next ship for New York." 

Happy man ! 'T is I that would like 
to kape you company," — and that was the 
general sentiment round about. Neverthe- 
less, in due time the march up-country 
began. 

For some time the land was barren 
enough to cause anxiety; but with that 
ardent and experienced reiver, Tarleton, 
well to the fore, ready for a dash, a skir- 
mish, a capture, and whose natural audacity 


A LITTLE HISTORY. 


227 


was heightened by the knowledge that in 
all the country round about there was no 
organized enemy, very soon provisions as 
from a land of plenty came rolling in. 
Surely such a harrying should bring back 
Greene in all haste ! Yet, curiously enough, 
it did n’t. And day by day a sense of dis- 
may began to grow and poison the good 
earl’s optimism ; a strong sense of defeat 
as persistent as a gadfly, since it was be- 
coming clearer and clearer that he had 
made a false move ; for the farther North 
and into Virginia he went, the farther 
South it became certain that Greene was 
marching, with an utter indifference to the 
earl’s doings that was simply maddening. 
For, after all, the earl was not producing a 
lasting effect on Virginia, and Greene was 
likely to do vital mischief in the Carolinas. 
The news from there already was dis- 
heartening to king lovers. As to Virginia 
— well, perhaps there was a bit of poetic 
justice at work there then. How did it 
happen that Cornwallis was boring his way 
through her heart at all, as a gigantic apple 
is tunnelled by a worm, with Tarleton as the 


228 


ON GUARD. 


horny, tearing head to the marching seg- 
ments ? Perhaps because only a little while 
before, a large part of the Virginia troops 
were stayed from reaching and helping 
Greene at Guilford by the action of her 
bumptious county officials, because all that 
fighting’ just then was happening outside 
of the state.'’ Verily, they and theirs had 
their reward ; and yet, so dense are some 
men's minds that it took over eighty years 
to convince them that these United States 
of ours comprise a Nation with a big N,” 
not a lot of inefficient little nations ! 'And 
some have not learned their lesson yet. 
But this is talking politics, not history. 

Nevertheless, to Stuart Schuyler, born 
in New York, brought up in Massachusetts, 
warring in New Jersey as well as in the 
other two, and from Charleston northward, 
all this seemed just then an absurdity 
fairly criminal ; selfishness that had become 
treason ; and on the day when word came 
of the earl’s march he suited his own 
rather loosely drawn orders to the need, 
and with loaded pistols in holsters and 
sword loose in its scabbard he took the 


A LITTLE HISTORY. 


229 


road at once for the Northern army. Where 
it was he hardly knew, but he was bound 
to find it somewhere. And right at his 
back rode that hardy warrior, Gavin Paynt. 
Small wonder that when, some little time 
after, Tartar raised his noble head and 
neighed a resonant bugle-blast of challenge 
to others of his kind that he saw in front 
of him at Richmond, a debonair young 
commander of twenty-three rode out to 
inspect, admired him to his full desert, then 
stared wonderingly at the stern, strong 
faces and forms of the two horsemen before 
him, all fringed and tasselled in mountain 
style. Small wonder that this commander, 
but a year or two Stuart's senior, should 
hold out his hand in a gesture of surprise, 
crying : 

Mon Dieu ! What new kind of young 
men are these?" 

Such were not raised then in France — 
no, nor afterward, at any time. Neverthe- 
less, he was glad indeed to have them, and 
would have been glad of an army of that 
kind, and was especially joyous when he 
was addressed by Stuart in French as fluent 


230 


ON GUARD. 


as his own, although with a more or less 
Britanic accent which made the polite 
marquis smile to himself at times. Yet, it 
was with a start, one day, that it occurred 
to him that after so brief a sojourn among 
real Frenchmen those little roughnesses of 
speech had well-nigh disappeared. One by 
one a keen ear had caught and mastered 
them. 

Mon ami, I would like to keep you 
with me always,'’ he said, as they marched 
and countermarched around country, to the 
bewilderment of Cornwallis and the unmit- 
igated wrath of Tarleton, neither of whom 
could get within striking distance. “ I 
would keep you always — foi de Lafayette ! 

— but behold, my countryman the Due de 
Lauzun requires one as his aide who has \ 
both the French and T Anglais at command. 

Voila ! I must send you to him. It will be 
of great' service to the cause that orders 
are well understood." 

Thus Stuart ere long found himself 
attached to a moving forest of bristling 
spears, and presently learned, to his great 
interest, what lances are^ made for and 


A LITTLE HISTORY. 231 

what they can do in skilful hands. So 
also did Tarleton, by the way. 

It was at Gloucester that it happened. 
Lafayette had gathered quite four thousand 
men together, at least a thousand of them 
hardy regulars from Pennsylvania, until 
even the wary earl concluded that it would 
be as well to get within touch of the sea- 
board and supplies — and aid, and got 
there quick. Then he must needs send 
out for more supplies, to be levied on the 
country ; when, as the convoys were return- 
ing, the twinkle of steel and the white 
uniforms of the awakened hussars came 
sweeping down upon their rear. It went 
ill with that rear-guard then ! 

Back came Tarleton in all haste, far 
ahead of most of his men, and out from 
the halted spurred one or two to meet 
them, a hussar with a vicious-looking pike, 
and — Stuart. Down they came, thunder- 
ing across the meadow, and a second more 
and their blades would have crossed on Vir- 
ginia soil as once before they had clashed 
down among the moss-hung trees of the 
Carolinasj but backward leaped and reared 


232 


ON GUARD. 


the frightened horse of Tarleton’s aide 
against his leader s, and down in a heap 
they plunged together, all terribly close 
to that halted hussar line. 

The colonel ! To the rescue of the 
colonel ! ’’ 

A roar went up from a hundred leathern 
throats, and with one impulse the whole 
British line came tearing down upon them 
ere Stuart had fairly checked his horse from 
the rush that followed that wild leap over 
the sudden obstacle. Well 'was it then that 
his own good sword was backed by a wrist 
of steel ! And both were red ere he had cut 
a lane for Tartar and himself through the 
tumultuous throng. Yet never stopping, 
the dragoons, 'v\"ell mounted on Virginian 
horses now, drove headlong at that well- 
handled line beyond, contemptuous at the 
thought that it meant to stand their charge 
— frog-eating Frenchmen against British 
brawn! Then, at the quiet command of 
the Due, down dropped the lances in a 
deadly hedge, against which the disorgan- 
ized troopers simply spiked themselves and 
lay in windrows at the hussars’ feet ! 





* ’ € 

'‘7 . y ' * i; ' 


■ , 




e 


V 


.■» t ' ♦ 

'-C*- 

** ^ 

^ -if V-. 






A LITTLE HISTOKY. 


233 


A horse was caught by some friendly 
hand for Tarleton, and away he sped in 
haste and safety ; but for that same safety 
of one lieutenant-colonel his men a bitter 
price had paid. 

And from that day onward, no more 
convoys went into Gloucester town. And 
the lines began to tighten around a be- 
leaguered army, now fairly driven deeper 
down the peninsula into Yorktown. Now 
and then its outposts saw in the sunlight a 
gallant troop of spears following a rider 
whom many of them knew, on some errand 
of watchful ward. But no man, singly or 
in company, had the hardihood to venture 
forth again to try their strength. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


LORD EGERTON IS MADE TRUSTEE OF A 

rebel’s fortune. 

O NE golden afternoon, months later, 
Lord Egerton sat quietly in his 
quarters at Yorktown. How blessedly 
still it was — startlingly still ! A Sabbath 
stillness on a working day. Only a few 
short hours before and he had seemed in 
the vortex of a hurricane, surrounded as 
he was by the terrible roar of cannon un- 
counted, in a smother of bitter smoke 
through which the shrilly whistling shot 
bored eddying holes overhead, while here 
and there trembled the dull crash of fall- 
ing walls. Now every gun was silent and 
the world was at rest, and he was sitting 
by himself thankfully wondering to find 
himself unharmed. He certainly had not 
spared himself, and war, siege, and disease 
had made many a gap in his list of friends, 
and yet here he was still without a scratch 


A rebel’s fortune. 


235 


save that one light scar through his hair 
where, far away beyond the Catawba, 
Stuart Schuyler’s bullet had torn its way. 
The resentful hair had refused to grow 
again in that whirling bullet’s track. It 
was good to be alive, and he was not too 
young to be humbly grateful for it at such 
a time. 

To him presently entered an elderly 
man with a face of keen intelligence, a 
courtly bearing, a smile that might or 
might not convey a real thought, and a 
snuff-box. 

Mr. Vandervere ! ” — and the younger 
man greeted him cordially, even affection- 
ately, bringing into action front his easiest 
chair, and such other tokens of hospitality 
as the place, time, and season admitted. 

^^You are well, Egerton? I have been 
more than a little anxious about you of 
late. There are not many of us left now.” 

Oh, yes, well enough, though a bit 
cast down at our luck. Who would have 
thought it ? ” 

did,” replied the elder, calmly. 
never rated lightly these squirrel-hunting 


236 


ON GUARD. 


Americans even in the beginning — I had 
seen too much of them in the years gone 
by, although our superiors refused to see 
them with my eyes, or thought them 
biased. And when the rebels finally had 
some of France’s best troops to assist them 
I expected something like this — not here, 
of course, or I scarcely would have allowed 
my feet to enter the trap. It was cleverly 
laid and sprung just right. Now it has 
caught us.” 

Lord Egerton looked up suddenly, startled, 
anxious. 

“It will go hard with you, cousin, I 
fear.” 

The other smiled and took snufi, com- 
posedly. 

Nff nff No, I think not. I could 
grace a rope for my king as well as Andr6, 
if need be ; but am considered to be more 
useful as I am. The earl is permitted to 
send a vessel to Clinton to inform him of 
the catastrophe — and no questions asked 
as to passengers — and I am to go in her, 
without drum or trumpet. Confidential 
agents of His Majesty have the right of 


A rebel's fortune. 


237 


way sometimes. But I have not had op- 
portunity before to congratulate you. I 
see that you have been gazetted captain. 
It was well earned ! " 

did what I could," the young man 
replied modestly, blushing. 

Of course ! It 's the way with men 
of our race. But we do not always win 
promotion thereby ; sometimes we go — 
higher, instead. However, I'm wrong! 
Death, when we are doing our duty and 
our best — that is promotion, too ! Well, 
I suppose this surrender practically ends 
it. 'Tis a pity, a great pity ! " 

Oh, but we are not beaten yet 1 " cried 
the young captain, his face flushing red. 

The other smiled a little grimly. 

I should not care to wager a large sum 
on that. It is last that tells, and we have 
a great and growing number of traitors 
at home, clamouring to stop the war at 
any price. I fear this blow will arm their 
hands afresh. But we shall see ! What 
will be, will be. I came to see you about 
another matter, cousin. I find I need 
your help." 


238 


ON GUARD. 


^‘With pleasure! How it brings back 
old times when I was a little fellow, run- 
ning to you for aid in my schemes and for 
stories about Indians and bears, in your 
altogether too short and far apart visits 
home 1 You were never with us long at 
a time.’’ 

No ; I was over here, with duties that 
have lasted until now. They end a day 
or two hence, at a most inconvenient time 
for me.” 

The surrender ? ” 

Partly. The duty lies here, and the 
surrender prevents my being here, which 
is why I need your aid. It is rather a 
long story in detail. In brief — many a 
year ago a trust was given me, and I gave 
my promise to a dying friend to place 
certain documents in the hands of his son 
on the latter’s majority birthday. The 
boy was a most lovable fellow and I did 
my best for him. But political duties often 
obliged me to absent myself, and while 
I was away he was bitten by this craze 
and became a rebel with the rest. I ought 
not to be surprised ; environment was 


A rebel’s fortune. 


239 


against him, and I guess it was also in 
his blood. Now I learn he is on the staff 
of the Due de Lauzun with the French 
Legion of cavalry. He won the appoint- 
ment, I suppose, because he speaks French 
well. It is not a common accomplishment 
over here.” 

And his name is Stuart Schuyler,” in- 
terpolated the other, with a smile. 

For once in his life St. George Vander- 
vere, diplomat and confidential foreign 
agent, was taken thoroughly by surprise. 

What do you know about it ? ” he 
demanded, whipping himself up bolt-up- 
right. 

The younger man laughed a little, enjoy- 
ing the situation. It seemed rather a joke 
to him. 

^^To begin with, once at home in old 
England I heard the name mentioned by 
somebody at the Castle. I don’t recall 
whom. But the name was peculiar, and 
stuck to my memory as such things some- 
times will. Imagine my surprise to hear 
it spoken down in the Carolinas. Then — 
let me see ! Did n’t you make a mid-winter 


240 


ON GUAKD. 


call on a demoiselle somewhere up North 
awhile ago and try to inveigle her into 
telling you where young Stuart was ? She 
wrote him all about it, and — we captured 
the letter/’ 

The sly-boots ! Nf! nf ! ” 

Mr. Vandervere took snuff with vigour. 

The earl sent the mail to Mr. Greene 
under a flag, with his compliments, and in 
my charge ; and I had the fun of handing 
that letter to Schuyler myself. He is a 
captain now. But you should have seen 
the way the colour flashed into his face 
just then 1 ” 

Well ! well ! It takes much to surprise 
me, Eger ton, but I am surprised. How 
was the boy looking ? ” 

As a man fit to fight for his life, with 
the most wonderfully wide-awake pair of 
eyes mortal ever had. Confound him ! He 
made us a world of trouble in the Caro- 
linas,” went on the captain, feelingly. If 
there is a man on earth that Tarleton sim- 
ply hates, it is he. A wilder rider never 
sat a horse, nor a more deadly ever levelled 
a rifle. Here ’s his mark,” pointing to his 


A eebel’s fortune. 241 

head, at which his listener turned a little 
pale, with an involuntary shiver. 

I caught sight of him several times, 
later, at Guilford, after which we did not 
hear of him again for some time, and slept 
in peace o’ nights, although some of us 
feared we might have forgotten how. That 
march from the Yadkin to the Dan was a 
perfect nightmare. We were never sure 
we wouldn’t wake with his sabre at our 
throats. Then one day over yonder he 
came down at the head of some French 
hussars with a crash on Tarleton, and 
Stuart fairly rode over the colonel. Laid 
him flat ! Great Caesar, how mad Tarleton 
was, when he came limping in ! He sim- 
ply could not speak from rage.” 

Yes, men of our race are bound to lead 
wherever they are,” said Mr. Vandervere, 
absently. 

What?” 

^^Eh? Oh, yes — I was thinking of 
your captaincy.” 

Well, I ’m thinking of that girl. What 
is she like ? ” 

As sweet a maiden as God ever made. 


16 


242 


ON GUARD. 


Beautiful, stately, and proud. With a wit 
keen enough to outwit me ! She reminds 
me of Stuart's mother — just such another 
girl in the years gone by. He is a lucky 
boy, if he lives through the rest of the war. 
But — revenons a nos moutons. The mat- 
ter is vastly simpler now that you know 
Stuart, by sight, at least. It is only to 
hunt him up to-morrow and deliver into his 
own hands this packet of papers — his in- 
heritance deeds, etc. By great good luck 
and a little forethought it has been wholly 
lost to sight that that young rebel has a 
goodly property which has been waxing 
during his long minority. Else it would 
have been confiscated instanter. It was a 
nice question, I admit, how far my duty 
to him squared with my duty to our 
King." 

What if I do it ? " laughed Egerton, as 
he stowed the packet safely in his breast. 

^‘I'm not afraid of that," and Mr. Van- 
dervere smiled his grim smile once more, 
tinged with a look of evident relief. The 
men of our race have been wild, sometimes, 
and in the lead always ; but not one of 


A rebel’s fortune. 243 

them ever sullied our honour or broke his 
word to man or maiden.” 

How about Uncle George ? ” 

That was n’t honour, but politics ! ” said 
Mr. Vandervere, quickly. ^‘His Grace, 
your grandfather, was a Hanoverian, 
George an ardent Jacobite, and stubborn 
as donkeys, both, of course, when they be- 
lieved they were in the right. So they 
clashed. Then George vowed he ’d cut 
clear of all his clan and leave them to their 
dear Hanoverians. So he came over here 
and married the daughter of an old New 
York patroon — a lovely girl she was ! 
and took her name. So they lost sight of 
him at home. Meanwhile, his portion 
grew great at home, since he did not need 
to touch it, and he had it reinvested under 
various names lest, sometime, ^ King 
Charles tried for his own again,’ and 
Jacobite heritages be imperilled in the 
fracas, never thinking of a rebellion over 
here. George was a far-seeing lad. I 
looked out for his investments. No need 
to go into that. Now, my boy, it is time 
for me to go on board. I pray you will 


244 


ON GUARD. 


find Stuart safe and sound. But if not — 
and there were French troops in the assault 
on the redoubts — if he is dead — then 
— then — open the packet yourself. The 
papers will explain. For no one then will 
have a better right to break the seals than 
yourself.” 

What ! ! ” 

Exactly.” And St. George Vander- 
vere betook himself to his snuff with es- 
pecial seriousness. Stuart is one of us. 
Jacobite born, rebel to-day — nf ! — nf! — 
but one of our race. He is your own 
cousin.” 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


FOR ONCE MAJOR STUART SCHUYLER 
IS SURPRISED. 

ARTAR whisked his black tail uncon- 



JL cernedly as he stood in equine dig- 
nity by the side of the steed of the Due 
de Lauzun. He had no objection to the 
presence of royalty. For that matter he 
was distinctly the better horse of the two, 
and no whit less perfectly groomed. There 
were good grooms among the Frenchmen, 
but there were keen-witted men among 
Tartar’s friends, both able and willing to 
learn a lesson from a good example. So 
Tartar, with perfect aplomb, conversed 
affably with the Due’s horse, while the 
Due’s horse’s rider chatted amiably to 
Tartar’s rider in a steady stream of French. 
There was a distinction there, for in each 
case the chattee was not saying anything 
in return, but listened for politeness’ sake. 


246 


ON GUARD. 


Of what were they thinking? Well, 
perhaps the Due’s horse was wondering if 
his master had forgotten that it was long 
past oat-time. Stuart was giving a long 
look backward over all that had happened 
since last he had seen in marching rank the 
uniforms of the British as closely as on 
this day. And, speaking of uniforms, his 
friends the French hussars were as brilliant 
as showy trappings, spotless white, and 
highly polished steel could make them. 
The dejected British soldiery, filing before 
them to the good old English tune, The 
World Turned Upside Down,” — a tune his- 
toric from that day, if never before, — were 
clad in freshly issued raiment, in scarlet 
that hardly bore the scent of battle smoke, 
much less the battle stain. 

Per coiiira, the thousands of exultant 
continentals were largely a legion of tatterde- 
malions. Here and there an officer of pri- 
vate means was clad respectably according 
to his rank, — bright stars they were in 
comparison, as a tallow dip is brighter than 
a bank of clay. Stuart himself had once 
had the promise of a uniform, but it had 


MAJOR SCHUYLER IS SURPRISED. 247 

not materialized ; and as lie glanced around 
at the tatters of others, seci'etly he felt a 
glow of satisfaction at the sturdy wear he 
was getting out of that garb of fringed 
buckskin which had protected him through 
swamp and forest and the thorniest paths 
of war. More than once in the past he 
had caught the Due glancing at it with 
a meditative smile. It was not beautiful, 
but it was war, to reverse a famous later 
saying of the Due's own countryman. 

Light thoughts ? Perhaps so. They will 
come to brighten sombre ones ; and glorious 
though the day might be, no voice was 
cheering from the silent ranks among the 
victors to add to the bitterness of their cap- 
tive foes as the latter marched through the 
flanking array of the allied armies, and laid 
down their arms in a field ringed by a 
girdle of French hussars in white and steel. 
The pitiful, knightly words of the gallant 
Captain Philip at Santiago — Don’t cheer, 
boys ! the poor devils are dying ! ” — were 
foreshadowed long before by the deeds of 
other knightly men ; and men of their breed 
still live, and are growing up around us, 
day by day. 


248 


ON GUAKD. 


How the surrender was done, how O’Hara 
gave up the sword of the earl as the repre- 
sentative of his commander, left ill in his 
lonely quarters, how Washington gave the 
place to Lincoln to receive it — Lincoln, who 
in like manner had lost his own at Charles- 
ton beyond recovery, yet now, noblesse oblige^ 
gave back the surrendered weapon into 
O’Hara’s hands, — all this is recorded in 
many a tome. Here and there, from his 
place, Stuart identified a familiar face. He 
had seen O’Hara in the heart of battle, 
and was glad to learn his name. With a 
low laugh to himself he recognized Tarleton 
as he passed, and from the whiteness of his 
face conjectured that he had been ill, in 
spite of the faultless poise of the cavalry- 
man in his saddle. For one or two other 
faces he looked in vain with a sense of dis- 
appointment, even loss. The fortune of 
war, perhaps, had interfered. 

It was over, the pomp and show, and 
after shaking hands with countless con- 
gratulators, American, and being embraced 
by as many others, Gallic, as he was unable 


MAJOR SCHUYLER IS SURPRISED. 249 

to dodge, Stuart finally escaped to his own 
quarters for a breathing spell. To him pres- 
ently appeared Gavin Paynt, now straight 
and soldierly, with stripes of honour on his 
arms, and with a veteran’s easy salute. 

Major, thar’s a Britisher askin’ for yo’, 
one er reckon yo’ ’ll be right smart peart 
ter see.” 

And close behind him was the Britisher.” 

Lord Egerton ! ” cried Stuart, spring- 
ing to his feet and grasping the silent hand 
in both his own. I am delighted to find 
you safe and sound. I looked for you in 
vain among the staff, and — feared.” 

At such a time as this an officer should 
share the fortunes of his company,” an- 
swered Lord Egerton, quietly. I was with 
mine.” 

Then he took a long look at the other 
and unconsciously his manner softened. 
^^For many days after Guilford I heard 
nothing of you, which was so unusual for 
you, that I also — feared, when perhaps as 
a good King’s man I should have hoped. 
But Tarleton finally informed me that you 
were very much alive.” 


250 


ON GUARD. 


The two smiled broadly at one another, 
and finally burst into a unanimous laugh 
which swept away the last vestige of con- 
straint, and the young men settled down 
for an unreserved exchange of confidences. 
Stuart somewhat grimly pointed here and 
there to some neatly mended slashes in his 
tunic as a partial reason for his temporary 
retirement from active business, adding, 
^‘Yes, the last time I met the colonel on 
the field I believe I nearly finished him. 
I saw him in the parade, and he did not 
look well.’* 

Good reason. He has been pacing his 
quarters I ’m told in momentary expecta- 
tion of being taken out and hung.” 

That ought not to trouble him,** said 
Stuart, coolly, considering his own general 
familiarity with what should be his coat 
of arms, — a rope pendant from a bough 
proper.** 

Well, curiously enough, it does.” 

“ Some people are never satisfied. Never 
mind him. I want to meet Colonel Web- 
ster. Where shall I find him ? ” 

In heaven, Stuart, — since Guilford.** 


MAJOR SCHUYLER IS SURPRISED. 251 

The major unconsciously raised his hand 
to a salute. 

A good man and a brave one, and an 
honest gentleman. Sure be his reward ! ” 
and a silence fell upon the two. 

Where is Leftenant Ludlow?” asked 
Egerton, presently. 

With Greene, still. Gone south to 
make Lord Rawdon happy. He is a cap- 
tain now — as I see you are also. Con- 
gratulations ! ” 

Thank you ; meanwhile — I heard your 
sergeant address you as major, I believe.” 

Oh, yes — they’ve been good enough — ” 
then Stuart hastily turned the subject. I 
met a number of our mutual friends the 
other day, after Guilford, that is ; Sergeants 
Wilde and Wyeth, and the men of your 
escort at the Cowpens.” 

Indeed! how were they?” cried the 
captain, eagerly enough. Where were 
they?” 

In fair health, all of them, in a prison 
camp. It keeps them safe and out of mis- 
chief. I gave them the latest news of you, 
for which they were exceedingly grateful, 


252 


ON GUARD. 


and each gave me all sorts of messages for 
you, if I ever met you again.’* 

^^It strikes me, Stuart, that was a bit 
like Ulysses or jEneas going down to Hades 
to see how the shades of the men they ’ve 
sent there were getting along.” 

‘^All but the Hades — no comparison 
there 1 ” laughed the other, except that 
each man had a pipe and was smoking like 
a chimney.” 

Hum ! as tobacco is a dollar a pound, 
I think I know where they got theirs,” 
said Lord Egerton, knowingly, and Stuart 
blushed. 

Oh, well, it cost me nothing but a bit 
of begging as we passed the plantations, 
and it made the poor chaps think of some- 
thing else than their inaction.” 

Lord Egerton smiled a little to himself, 
and presently remarked : 

This is your birthday, Stuart, is it 
not ? ” 

“ Thank you, yes ; though — ” 

How did I know it ? Man, a certain 
cousin of mine happens to be named Van- 
dervere.” 


MAJOR SCHUYLER IS SURPRISED. 253 

Wliat ! where is he ? — dear old fellow, 
I ’d give a farm to see him, if I had one. 
I owe all I am to his training of me as a 
boy.- 

Well — er reckon — yo’ do ! some,” re- 
plied Lord Egerton, mimicking the Southern 
speech, with which he had been so long 
familiar. And it would have been well 
for King George if he had omitted some of 
that same training. He did it altogether 
too well ! Just now he is far out at sea, 
for his health's sake. He is pretty deep in 
politics, you know, and hemp is inexpen- 
sive. He prefers his tarred, on shipboard, 
as rigging. As he could not well be present 
and retain his head where it now is, he 
asked me to represent him and hand over 
to you a certain package of title-deeds and 
other impedimenta, which I surrender here- 
with. Likewise an unknown number of 
heads of His Majesty, done in gold, and 
enclosed in a bag under seal. Glad to get 
rid of that ! It 's too heavy for comfort. 
Likewise — my congratulations. I 'm told 
the rents have rolled up, waiting your 
majority. Stuart, you are passing rich ! I 


254 


ON GUARD. 


shall know where to go when I need to 
borrow a sov., — you are n’t half surprised 
enough, however. Remembering a certain 
letter we captured near the Catawba and 
the possibilities, now — ” 

Here Stuart blushed again, most vividly, 
and said hurriedly : 

In the first place it is news only in 
degree, not in kind, although none the 
less welcome ; and I thank you, heartily ! 
Secondly, it takes a deal to surprise me, 
nowadays.” 

Nevertheless I must do my duty and 
surprise you now, most thoroughly. Among 
other heritage, good and bad, you are com- 
pelled to take a new cousin, whether you 
will or no.” 

So ! who is the detrimental ? ” 

Me.” 

YOU ! ” 

Stuart sat down suddenly, and stared 
with all his eyes. 

Are you mad ? ” and he kept an eye on 
his sword. 

Never less so,” laughed the other, loung- 
ing back in keen enjoyment. 


MAJOR SCHUYLER IS SURPRISED. 255 

Well — ” was the slow rejoinder, I — 
certainly — am — surprised. I ’m glad my 
relations are so presentable. I’m a bit 
particular about that. But what a mercy 
we did not knock each other’s heads off 
before we found it out ! ” 

Yes, indeed, you scamp ! And we both 
have n’t come far from it ; mine has worn 
your private mark since the Cowpens — 
regularly branded — and I came within one 
of finishing you when you ran off with the 
earl’s man. My escort cheerfully would 
have risked boring the man with a bullet if 
they could have got you then as well. 
What have you done with Jackson ? ” 
Then they both laughed. 

Poor Jackson ! I left him at the prison 
camp, wholly unreconciled. To carry out 
your simile, he was as sulky as the shade of 
Ajax when Ulysses wanted to shake hands. 
In his estimation the way he was taken was 
wholly beneath his dignity, as the body ser- 
vant of the earl, and the way your Cowpens 
escort poked fun at him when he joined 
them at the camp did not improve his state 
of mind.” 


256 


ON GUARD. 


well, I suppose I shall meet him 
soon, and perhaps I can bring him to a 
more Christian resignation.^' 

But that raised an idea in Stuart’s mind 
which bore forth fruit of some value to all 
concerned. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


THE HOME-COMING. 

I T was a brilliant, happy throng which 
gathered in and around Washington's 
headquarters. The general could fare as 
hardly as any private without a murmur ; 
few phases of rough soldiering were un- 
known to him. Yet was he not averse to 
considerable state at proper times, in which 
his private fortune favoured him. Also 
the dashing officers of the French allies 
loved splendour, and they were the Nation’s 
guests. So the general’s guests enjoyed 
themselves that day. 

Into this gathering Colonel Hamilton 
ventured to insert a little business. 

Your Excellency, one of our officers 
has asked me to proffer in his behalf a 
request for a furlough, for which he is too 
shy himself to ask.” 

The general frowned. 

17 


258 ^ 


ON GUARD. 


I am glad that he showed at least that 
much of discretion. This is not the time, 
Colonel Hamilton, to stay our hands be- 
cause God has been pleased to grant our 
country a success. I will do you the justice 
to infer that the case is exceptional, since 
you have made the request.’’ 

I fancy the case is somewhat excep- 
tional, your Excellency. The young man 
enlisted as a private at the beginning of 
the war. He is now a major, and, save 
when recovering from wounds, he has not 
been absent from service of some kind for 
one day, if we include a sojourn inside the 
British lines, where you sent him.”' 

^^Wait — is it Major Schuyler?” asked 
the general, quickly. 

The same, your Excellency ; and I 
fancy there is a young lady in the case, 
also, whom he has not seen in all that 
time, and who perhaps deserves your 
consideration.” 

Le Majeur Schuyler ? ” remarked the 
Due de Lauzun, who stood near and caught 
the name. Ha ! un hrave gargon, et le hete 
noir de monsieur le Colonel Tarleton I ” 


THE HOME-COMING. 


259 


And he laughed to himself at some 
sudden recollection of a British trooper’s 
horse recoiling against the colonel’s, over- 
throwing steed and its furious rider, while 
a big black stallion was carrying a stern- 
eyed cavalryman in a wild leap over the 
tumultuous heap of men and horses. It had 
been a stirring sight! He was likely to 
remember it for some time, although it 
had passed as quick as a lightning flash in 
the heart of a foray that made his pulses 
quicken to think of even yet. 

The general reflected a moment. 

I remember him,” he said briefly. 

He once told me that the kings of Eng- 
land of late had all been Georges.” And 
he smiled his rare smile of dignified en- 
joyment. 

“ There are other rather curious fea- 
tures in the case, your Excellency. It 
seems he has discovered a cousin and a 
fortune in the British ranks, and wishes 
greatly to be allowed to take the cousin 
home with him on parole.” 

‘^Lest perchance the fortune may fly 
away ? ” smiled the general. He seems 


260 


ON GUARD. 


remarkably certain about the young lady, 
if his cousin is at all presentable.'' 

Whereupon half a score of good Ameri- 
cans cried reproachfully, — 

Fie ! Fie ! your Excellency ! Our ladies 
love their country as much as — " 

You do them ! ’' interrupted the gen- 
eral, laughingly. 

However, he promised to take the matter 
into consideration. 

As for Stuart himself, just then he was 
riding hither and yon with a little troop 
of orderlies at his back, through the streets 
of Yorktown on various official errands, 
and despatching replies to headquarters. 
One message clearly was misdirected, for 
as he entered the commodious mansion 
with war-time lack of ceremony he found 
himself unexpectedly confronting Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Tarleton. Stuart's face 
flushed suddenly red. It was an exceed- 
ingly awkward rencontre, for while there 
were many military matters which he 
would have liked to talk over with him 
and compare notes, a meeting now placed 



7 ^ 




''V>x 
• - ■- ^ . 




S-M. 


Vi 


^ J- 


■• ■:>■ 4 ' 


^■v 




I 

'-¥1 






• CH 

■■' 


r 




•'^SJT 


■r* 


. -r> - 













THE HOME-COMHSTG. 261 

Stuart in the position of seeming to triumph 
over a beaten enemy. 

The colonel’s face grew suddenly white, 
his frame rigid; but his black eyes were 
steady and soldierly. 

^^You have come for me? Very well, 
sir, I am ready.” 

Stuart saluted him gravely, while the 
red went slowly down. 

No, Colonel, I am not so unfortunate. 
Evidently there is a mistake, for my errand 
was to one of ours.” Then — 

Excuse me. Colonel, I infer from your 
question that you were expecting some un- 
pleasant summons. Permit me to say that 
I have heard of none which needs a mo- 
ment’s thought. I venture to affirm, in 
behalf of my absent superiors, that you will 
be regarded as a prisoner of war and 
treated as such.” 

The relief in the colonel’s face was 
unmistakable. 

I did not know — Ferguson — Lee — ” 
he stammered, then stopped. 

^^Ah, yes; I understand. But Fergu- 
son’s men, I think, was a case of neighbour 


262 


ON GUARD. 


against neighbour and private vengeance ; 
while inasmuch as your captain practically 
murdered Lee's boy-trumpeter, who was 
unarmed, his escape from instant hanging 
was, I admit, a miracle. But since that 
day war has been — war.” 

A flush of colour stole over the colonel's 
face. Doubtless he remembered the letter 
which the frightened captain had been per- 
mitted to send to his friends, and which at 
last opened their stubborn eyes to the per- 
sonal danger of an executionary war. 

Can I do anything for you. Colonel ? ” 
asked Stuart, after a moment. 

No — thanks,” a ghost of a smile light- 
ing for a second the other's face, I could 
hardly ask for Tartar back. Yes, one thing. 
Major,” — and the recognition of the rank 
came slowly out, as though with some diffi- 
culty — for my own satisfaction, I would 
like to know what you were when I picked 
you up in New York, and carried you to 
Carolina ? ” 

Certainly, — a private in General Wash- 
ington's army ; and a comrade, now a cap- 
tain, was under that wharf taking notes of 


THE HOME-COMING. 


263 


your expedition as I brought them to him. 
We owe our upward start in rank in part 
to you.’^ 

The colonel smote his palms together. 

From first to last, then, you Ve had the 
daring of a devil incarnate. What satanic 
ill-luck it was that threw you in my way. 
If I had but known, that day ! ’’ 

A gleam came into Stuart’s own eyes just 
then, as he looked straight into the angry 
ones before him, and then glanced down 
meditatively at his own bronzed, muscular 
hands. 

Had it come to that, I fancy. Colonel, 
that neither of us would ever have seen 
the shore of Carolina, nor, perhaps, an- 
other sun. It is better for us both that 
you did not.” And like lightning came to 
the colonel’s mind his own hard-won knowl- 
edge of the cat-like quickness and nerve of 
steel owned by that young man. Decidedly 
it was better ! 

As it stands. Colonel, in a way we now 
each have been the prisoner of the other ; 
would it not be well to let our private 
differences end here?” 


264 


ON GUARD. 


And with gloomy meditation the colonel 
thought it would. 

They never met again. Forgetting assists 
materially in forgiving ; and the colonel so 
successfully forgot that in his memoirs he 
nowhere mentions Stuart Schuyler’s name. 
As for Stuart, he was perfectly willing to 
be forgiven, even at such a price. Mean- 
while, Tartar remained his. He was a 
good American, even though, like Stuart, 
for a time he had been in bad — that is to 
say, British — company. But then again, 
like Stuart, that had not been his fault. 

It- was a number of days later, — how 
many the curious need not inquire, as the 
records do not state, — moreover it was 
one of those lovely Massachusetts’ October 
days when all the world seems bound in 
russet and gold, and the air was still, — so 
still, that the faint blue smoke from the 
wide-mouthed chimneys of the distant 
farmhouse had simply followed the line 
of colder air, and had drifted slowly down 
the hill to the little lake below, where 
it hung in a bank of blue haze, veiling the 


THE HOME-COMING. 


265 


outlines of the opposite shore. The water, 
too, was still, with here and there a golden 
speck, as an insect fluttered, and here and 
there a wimple, as a fish rose from beneath 
to dine. The brown oaks and walnuts 
flushed their reflections across it, framing 
in their depths the fiery scarlet of a thicket 
of swamp maples at the water’s edge. 

On a little knoll at the foot of a giant 
tree sat Pearl Hathaway, in whose eyes 
glowed the October russet in harmony with 
the colour of the world. Around her 
boughs of gorgeous leaves were heaped, 
and leaf by leaf the spoils were being 
plaited into ropes and wreaths by her busy 
fingers; hers, and those of that sprite of 
mischief, — merry, loving, laughing Rhoda, 
who sat beside with now and then a hug, 
and now a tease. 

Once even she stopped, as overhead a 
flash of blue flame betokened the arrival of 
another jay to join those screaming their 
strident calls, and suddenly their harsh 
cries ceased, and one began that lovely, 
low-toned, liquid, warbling song so tenderly 
beautiful, and, oh, so rarely heard ! 


266 


ON GUARD. 


Then her eyes wandered, and her hands 
lay in her lap, still. 

Far down the valley the road wound its 
way, appearing and disappearing, and 
Rhoda's strong young eyes presently found 
something of interest. 

Some one is coming,’' she announced 
from her post of vantage on the knoll. 

I can see — two men, no, three ; two 
are on one horse, and the third is leading a 
horse that goes lame.” 

Can you ? ” was the indifferent re- 
sponse. Pearl was not interested particu- 
larly in strange men. I think we have 
nearly enough plaits now to go across the 
fireplace and around mother’s portrait,” 
she said reflectively. 

Meanwhile the riders disappeared. 

A little breeze suddenly rustled in the 
leaves above, hiding other sounds. Hence 
Rhoda, who was glancing up, gave a little 
gasp as like an apparition from the lilac- 
lane — short cut from the road below — 
and hardly a rod away a big black horse 
stepped forth with stately tread, bearing a 
broad-shouldered young man in some 


THE HOME-COMING. 


267 


strange, dun-yellow garb the like of which 
she had never seen, while in the sun on 
the shoulders something shimmered which 
she knew must be epaulettes, and in the 
strong face of the youth was something 
familiar, as in a face from the far-back past. 
Behind him, pillion fashion, sat another 
young man, clad in scarlet, whose hand- 
some, friendly face was peering inquisi- 
tively over the other’s shoulder. 

But Pearl had sprung to her feet, with 
every nerve tense, all wreathed as she then 
was by garlands, the latest prank of that 
sprite Rhoda. And her cry echoed as the 
zephyr lulled. 

Stuart ! ” 

Then for moments all was happy bewil- 
derment. Only, somehow, Stuart was on 
the sod, his arms were around Pearl, and 
hers — ah, hers were around his neck. 

Of course Rhoda was shocked ! Such 
actions before folks ! What had become 
of all of Pearly’s pride ? 

But wait ! What was this new young 
gentleman saying, and to her, while the 
the third man remained discreetly in the 
background, grinning broadly ? 


268 


ON GUARD. 


I see we must introduce ourselves. 
You, I know, must be Miss Rhoda ; and I ” 
— he shrugged his shoulders slightly — I 
am the fortunate person whom you desired 
that other favoured person, Stuart, to bring 
home to you on his crupper as spoil of war. 
He has obeyed orders only too well ! I am 
Lord Egerton.’’ 

And for once, for a long minute of maid- 
enly confusion, poor Rhoda had naught to 
say. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


A FURLOUGH THAT HAD CONSEQUENCES/' 

W HAT a delightful time that furlough 
was, indeed, to Stuart. No more 
long night watches ; no more muddy 
marches ; no more army rations — or lack 
of rations; no more solitude of soul; no 
more buckling down of thought and speech 
as private under officer, or as officer over 
private. And the pranks that that boy 
played made the hairs on the head of Caleb, 
the hired man, stand perpetually on end. 
At least, Caleb said they did. At the first, 
indeed. Pearl was a little alarmed. She 
felt somewhat like the fisherman who un- 
corked the genie and then wished he had 
him back safe in the bottle again. This 
was not quite the Stuart she had known. 

And yet it was, only for years and years 
he had been packing down out of sight his 
real boyhood, and now it had broken bonds 


270 


ON GUARD. 


like steam and was expanding. And Rhoda 
declared he was the most satisfactory boy 
she had ever known, — a statement which, 
for some unstated reason, made Lord Eger- 
ton look uncomfortable, as though he would 
have preferred to have such references made 
of him alone. Did Rhoda know that ? 
Of course ! Some girls like to play pussy- 
cat, not knowing really how deep the little 
claw-marks sting, until some day the case 
is reversed, and then— well, sometimes they 
turn over a new leaf. The best ones do ; 
the others had best be left alone. 

To Gavin Paynt, Southerner, all this was 
a new world, a new people, a general revela- 
tion. The neatly kept, prosperous-looking 
buildings and plump cattle were to him 
evidences of unbounded wealth, such as 
only the planters of great estates in the 
South indulged in. The absence of slaves 
was a puzzle, but, on the whole, satisfac- 
tory, as he explained to Squire Hathaway 
in a moment of confidence. 

They 're triflin', ornary critters, ready 
ter curl up an’ go ter sleep in the sun when 
yo’ back ’s turned, an’ not wuth a picayune 


CONSEQUENCES. 


271 


C6 


when hit ain’t, ’less yo’ keep ther lash 
a-crackin’ or make ’em think hit is. But 
we-uns hev ter hev ’em, I s’pose.” 

He gave the squire many a bit of infor- 
mation about a life equally new to that 
well-read gentleman, who enjoyed greatly 
the fun of drawing Gavin out. He never 
had happened to meet just such a specimen 
of his countrymen before. But Gavin did 
not care. To him, also, this resting time 
was a bit of paradise. It gave him some- 
what of a shock, it is true, to see Pearl and 
Khoda busying themselves with various 
household tasks which at home he had 
seen performed on the judge’s ” plantation 
only by carefully selected house- servants of 
sable hue, under the stern eye of Mammy 
Suke, or the equally severe frown of her 
grizzly-topped and portly spouse, Caesar 
Africanus, the butler. But he remembered 
well the way of the young ladies ” of the 
estate, when they found it necessary to 
address him, perhaps to ask that a gate be 
opened, or a stone picked out of a horse’s 
hoof ; and friendly although might be the 
casual chat which Pearl and Rhoda might 


272 


ON GUARD. 


have for the moment with Caleb, and even 
now and then a bright bit of repartee, 
through it all he had no difficulty in the 
least in recognizing that they and the 
‘‘judge’s’^ daughters were in the same 
rank, while Caleb was in his. And he 
rather envied Caleb. 

As for Stuart — Why, suh ! I never 
would a-believed hit ! Not mo' 'n if my ol' 
rifle 'd tuk hit into hits flint ter sudd’nly 
sprout green leaves 'n' grow posies. Thar 
never was no Injun keener on the trail 
nor the major! Nuther Tarleton nor 
'Wallis ever caught 'im asleep, though they 
tried hit, lordy, yes, times a-plenty, an* 
would a-gin ther eye-teeth for 'im, any 
time. He was the reg'lar thorniest sort 
of a thorn in their sides, an' did n't we-uns 
jist know it ! An' now, jist look at 'im ! 
Why, Squire, if I was ter tell the boys 
wot I 've seed they 'd drum me outer camp, 
fer a doggone liar, so they would 1 " 

Nevertheless, in spite of a tendency to 
send Tartar over the fences with a yell, 
instead of letting down the bars like other 
folks, giving the latter many a shock at his 


CONSEQUENCES. 


273 


(C 


seeming recklessness of life and limb, Stuart 
really was behaving pretty well. Once 
back on his own feet, instead of on Tartar’s, 
and he acted like a reasonable being, and 
ate, talked, laughed joyously, and con- 
ducted himself generally like a semi-riotous 
sunbeam and a delight to all the rest. 

The squire laughed at him until he shook 
all over. Ehoda’s opinion already has been 
stated. Pearl’s — was a strictly private 
matter, but generally satisfactory, if her 
eyes bore true witness to her thoughts. 
Lord Egerton began by looking saturnine, 
then, as chagrin at his capture wore away, 
amused, and finally the restraint of war- 
making vanished and he, too, for a time 
was as wild as a hawk, and played tag on 
horseback with the colts all over the rocky, 
hilly pasture, till Rhoda turned fairly pale 
and clasped her little hands in apprehension 
as he scurried up and down the gullies, re- 
gardless of a likely fall. Stuart stood it 
that afternoon until he could stand no 
more of such temptation on such a glorious, 
tingling, sunlit day. Then, slashing out a 
couple of stiff birch canes, he leaped on 
18 


274 


ON GUARD. 


Tartar, bareback, and intercepted his cou- 
sin in full flight. 

^‘Hi! Egerton, catch!’’ and he tossed 
him a cane. 

Gardez d vous ! ” and with his own 
stick he executed a duellist’s salute with a 
grace and precision that stirred the English 
blood as into Lord Egerton’s mind came 
the thought — Come, this cousin is credi- 
table, for a provincial ! ” — and, nothing 
loth, with a gay laugh he also saluted, and 
then in a trice their foils engaged — swish I 
swish! in flashing lunge and parry, slash 
and guard, till the turf beneath was cut by 
the plunging, dancing hoofs as though it 
had been torn up by a charge of grape, for 
the horses were as wild as their riders, and 
Tartar, at least, had played that game 
before. 

This was the war-game of tag indeed ! 
and the girls — who had climbed a huge 
boulder out of harm’s way — held their 
breath with excitement, and laughed aloud 
as the bark flew from the green sticks and 
left them white and polished ; and they cried 
out in sympathy as some keen stroke went 


CONSEQUENCES.” 275 

nearly home, and they thought of the sting 
that might have followed. 

Egerton tried all he knew, — every trick 
and turn of the maitre d'armes under whom 
he ’d studied, and again and again, with 
some new attack, he got so nearly home 
that it seemed a miracle when air alone 
was all his thrust had met, and he, in turn, 
flashed up a guard against a return so swift 
and deadly that no shred of carelessness 
could be thought of if he would keep his 
place. His horse was fully equipped, Tar- 
tar saddleless, under bridle alone ; yet the 
horsemanship was faultless, and although 
once and again and yet again Egerton had 
felt his opponent's touch, not once was he 
able to get past Stuart's guard, backed by 
its wrist of iron and hawk's eye, and expe- 
rience in the stern, hard school of war. 
And when, later, he came to think it over 
by himself, and study the causes as the true 
swordsman must, to learn, he ceased to 
wonder at his lack of success, and began, 
instead, to think well of himself that he had 
been able to so nearly hold his own, and for 
so long. 


276 


ON GUARD. 


As for Pearl and Rhoda, it was all per- 
fectly wonderful to them, and their inno- 
cent questioning as to whether soldiering 
was full of that sort of work, made it some- 
what hard for the two not particularly 
ancient warriors to keep their faces straight, 
and their answers in accordance with strict 
truth. But it had been royal sport ! 

And out of it Lord Egerton was by far 
the greater gainer although not winning ; 
for that he could hold his own so nearly 
against Stuart raised him immensely in 
Pearl’s appreciation, while in Rhoda’s mind 
he had come off even in the fray, — which 
was a more profitable winning of opinion 
still. That, however, did not prevent 
Egerton from saying in hearty frankness, 
as they ambled homeward : 

All the same, old fellow, I ’d give any- 
thing if I could ride a barebacked horse 
like that! It’s as well for me we never 
came to the real thing against each other 
in the South.” 

To which Stuart, laughingly ignoring 
the last part of the sentence, replied : 

You have n’t had my advantages. 


CONSEQUENCES. 


277 




Cousin. You never had to ride Muskrat ! 
But it is n’t too late yet, perhaps. I don’t 
know whether Colonel Tarleton still has 
him, but if not, perhaps we can have him 
traced for you. He must be a public char- 
acter. It ought to be easy to find him.” 

But Egerton at that piously exclaimed, 
Heaven forbid ! ” 

That night, ere the dusk came down, 
Pearl slipped her hand into Stuart’s — 
where it was quite lost to sight — and led 
him shyly to where her rug-work lay, and 
unrolled its fabric in all its brilliancy. It 
was so nearly done that it could be well 
displayed, and she looked for some enthu- 
siasm ; but, to her surprise, he did not say a 
word, but stood there, silent. Finally, she 
stole a look at his face, feeling a little 
chilled at his silence, when, lo ! those eyes 
of his, so ever-watchful, were riveted on 
the pattern on the opposite side, and a ten- 
der smile was quivering around the strong 
mouth, for in that first short glance of all 
he had lighted on the one thing she had 
not intended that he should see — just yet ! 
the telltale initials, S. S.” under the roses. 


278 


ON GUARD. 


And with a little cry her hand flashed up 
and covered those too inquisitive eyes, 
while she felt her own cheeks flushing scar- 
let. And that hand was softly kissed by 
somebody before it reached its level, once, 
twice, and again. 

Then, alas, came the end of the fur- 
lough. Pearl Hathaway’s face was like 
marble on the morning when she learned 
that Stuart must return to his duty again. 
It gave her almost an unearthly beauty, yet 
never a tear glittered in her lashes, nor a 
droop marred the curve of the sensitive 
mouth. This was her share in her coun- 
try’s battle, and she must see to it that her 
standard was not lower than that of the 
boy who was leaving her once again ; and 
yet, and yet, was it not far harder for her 
to let him go this time than it was before ? 
But that was a matter to be forgotten 
quickly now. And with sunny word and 
smile she packed Stuart’s scant campaign 
belongings, laughingly remarking on their 
remarkable scantiness, saw to it that he 
was not lacking in provision of their best, 
and in such luxuries in a small way as the 


COKSEQUENCES.” 279 

time and Stuart’s soldier sense permitted ; 
and at the last, that she stood waving her 
hand where he could see her, smiling still, 
as he turned for the last time where the 
lane emerged from its flanking shrubbery 
'and swerved into the common road. Then, 
when the rest looked around for her, they 
found she had slipped away, and it was 
many an hour before Lord Egerton, at 
least, laid eyes on her again. 

When next the latter saw his new-found 
cousin Stuart, years more of the tedious 
fighting and waiting of the reluctant war 
had passed away, the war was ended, and 
Stuart had won the right to add the prefix 
colonel ” to his name. 

That waiting had been very hard for 
Egerton to endure. He could not arrange 
an exchange ; he had to be content, as best 
he could, with idleness as to his profession, 
and to remain a captain still. However, 
after all, there were compensations. He 
was permitted to remain there in Massa- 
chusetts. And Rhoda was still — Ehoda. 
Likewise she was growing up, with all that 
it implies. And the imp that lies in the 


280 


ON GUARD. 


dimple of every girlish cheek, perhaps 
sleeping, yet never dead, had risen to the 
occasion now. Lord Egerton ceased to find 
time hanging heavy on his hands. On the 
contrary, it was with a distinct sense of 
consternation that it dawned on him one 
day that the war really was over, his parole 
given back to him, and that he surely ought 
to return at once to his English home, 
as he now had no further fair excuse for 
staying. 

Had he not, indeed ? Well, that would 
depend on the comparative value of some 
excuses, and whether a certain sunny 
face, dangerous with dimples and other 
weapons against his peace, might be ac- 
counted fair, without regard to the brown- 
ing work of a summer sun. His Grace, the 
Duke, had written him in ducal language 
to ask why (a variety of Saxon adjectives 
and other parts of vigorous speech) he did 
not come home and give his grandfather a 
chance to look at him ; but there was talk 
of a wedding soon, and a man really ought 
to stand by his cousin at such a trying 
time, and not desert at the last moment. 


CONSEQUENCES. 


281 


ii 


What would the hospitable squire say ? 
What would Pearl say ? What would Stuart 
himself think ? What would — well, his 
other, last, and best excuse ? 

Hum ! It was a serious matter, very. 
Nor could his departure well be put off 
much longer. On the whole, he did not 
know that he actually wanted it to be put 
off. But he really must talk over the 
matter with — Miss Rhoda! 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 

T he Duke of Dunmere was in a state 
of mind. 

That is expressing it mildly. He was 
in several states, and the trouble was that 
he was in all of them at once, and they 
were not united,” either. On the con- 
trary, they were as independent as a dozen 
chickens which at that very moment were 
tackling one worm in the little village 
down the valley. The result was equally 
satisfactory to worm and Duke. Fate and 
facts are no respecters of persons. 

^^If the fellow had only given me a 
chance ! ” the Duke muttered angrily, as 
he crumpled a letter in his hand and then 
essayed to smooth it out again upon his 
knee — instead of writing, the young 
rascal ! — that he has done it. He is like 
his father; like bis father, like both my 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 


283 


boys. Dunmere would have done just so, 
I ’ll warrant ; and George did ! — I was too 
hard on George. But why did the boy 
have to go and turn Jacobite, and disown 
his lawful king? Still — I was too hard 

— too hard ! I might have made allow- 
ances. And now here ’s Egerton following 
John Eolfe’s lead with another copper- 
coloured princess as his trump. He calls 
her his princess — the young idiot ! Why 
couldn’t he have waited for some white- 
skinned English girl who would be a credit 
to our line ? I suppose she ’ll wear a nose- 
ring — no! it’s the Africans that do that, 
that’s a comfort! Well, wampum, then 

— whatever that is. Pretty, of course. 
The boy could be trusted that far; but 
not a yard farther. Oh, confound the 
fellow ! — Vandervere ! Yandervere ! ” and 
he beckoned imperatively to that gentle- 
man, who was strolling meditatively up 
and down the path by the castle moat, 
glancing alternately at the fine reflections 
of the gray-stoned keep therein, and at the 
hoary tower itself that loomed above him. 

St. George Vandervere enjoyed the good 


284 


ON GUARD. 


things of life none the less because all his 
life long he too had had the portion of a 
younger son under English law, — a gener- 
ous portion, fortunately for him; and the 
Duke, as head of the family, often had 
invited him to the Castle as a welcome 
guest whenever he was in England. 

Vandervere, — your eyes are younger 
than mine, and the boy writes abominably. 
Eead me Egerton’s letter, here — the 
young imbecile ! 

Mr. Vandervere straightened out the 
crumpled sheet into legibility with some 
difficulty, utilizing the time thus gained 
by discreetly smoothing out also a smile 
behind a protecting hand. He knew Lord 
Egerton pretty well, and was not par- 
ticularly surprised to learn that his Grace 
was not exactly approving of some of his 
grandson’s recent doings. He also had 
had letters. Also, he was diplomatic, as 
befitted one brought up as an attache in 
the Foreign Office. Perhaps it would be 
advisable to bring a little of his public 
practice to bear on this matter of strictly 
private life. 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 


285 


The boy does not go into many details,” 
he observed as a harmless observation, when 
he had finished the reading, and well-nigh 
finished the Duke as well thereby. The 
news had had time to strike in, and Eger- 
ton’s handwriting seemed like Talleyrand’s 
speech, calculated to conceal his thoughts. 
It was not necessarily a sign of greatness 
that it required a diplomat to bring out 
its sense. 

The Duke snorted. 

^^Meaningless adjectives, sir, the whole 
letter. Pooh ! Rubbish ! — the boy ’s in 
love, Yandervere, that’s the whole story. 
What is their colour, Yandervere — copper 
or bronze ? I ’ve heard men call it both ; 
but you ’ve been over there.” 

St. George Yandervere laughed outright. 

^^Not so bad as that, your Grace. I 
see he says her name is Rhoda, — the 
ruddy ! I knew a little girl named Rhoda 
once, over there, a bright, sparkling little 
witch. It would be curious, indeed, if it 
should turn out to be the same, and the 
name is not over-common. She was white 
enough, and of good old English stock.” 


286 


ON GUARD. 


The Duke looked thoughtful. 

’T would be a blessing if it were ! ’T is 
terrible for me to think, Yandervere, that 
the last of our direct line should taint our 
race with savage blood.’^ 

^^No fear of that, your Grace, I’m 
certain, and I’ve seen much of the boy. 
Give him your trust a little longer, I beg 
of you. I feel sure you will not regret 
it. But — I am at last permitted to give 
you a message, your Grace, — from the 
dead.” He paused a moment. Lord 
Egerton is not your only grandson. There 
is another.” 

The old nobleman whipped himself erect, 
alert, eager, his voice shrilling with the 
surprise as he leaped to a swift conclusion. 

“ What, George’s boy ? Did he leave a 
son?” 

‘^Yes.” 

^^Why was I not told?” — and a red 
flush swept stormily over his astounded 
features. 

George willed it so ; your Grace best 
knows why. The boy himself was not 
to know until he was twenty-one; and 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 287 

when that time came, there was the war, 
with its chances. I could not bring my- 
self to tell you then lest it result but in 
dashed hopes and new sorrow. Now the 
war is over.’’ 

He was in it, then ? ” 

The Duke put the question slowly, as 
though dazed. 

Certainly! — with his inheritance he could 
hardly have kept out. Jacobite father, you 
know. And, ’pon my word, had I been he 
I would have been a rebel, too 1 One 
breathes it in the very air, over there. 
Yes, indeed, the boy was very much ^ in 
it,’ as Lord Cornwallis, Tarleton — Egerton 
himself would testify, for there were times 
when he made life a burden to them all. 
Rebel or no rebel, I ’m proud of the lad, he 
being one of us,” he ended a little defiantly, 
resorting to his snuff-box. 

But the aged Duke was saying to himself, 
unheeding, Another grandson — another 
— George’s boy ! ” It was so strange, so 
hard to comprehend after the lapse of so 
many lonely years, and yet so sweet. 

For after all was said and done, George, 


288 


ON GUARD. 


impetuous George had been very dear to 
him ! 

Meanwhile, down in the mossy little 
village of Dunmere in each stone cottage 
there was a wee bit buzzing, for it had got 
abroad that the Dunmere quota was on its 
way back from the war! News of their 
coming had been brought by postman and 
crier. That they had all been wounded and 
prisoners had been told around before amid 
much lamentation; and it had not been 
stated whether subsequently they had been 
tied to the stake, tattooed, or eaten ; hence 
their safe return reasonably whole and un- 
frescoed save by war-marks was like a 
resurrection. Consequently, when the little 
troop dressed rank for the last time half a 
mile from the village for the march in, not 
one living soul belonging to that village 
was not on the green to receive them. 

Stolidly the troopers tramped along, — 
strong, broad-shouldered men who had left 
as boys years ago. No country louts were 
these, but soldiers, tried and true, with iron 
discipline keeping every gleam of thought 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 289 

from their expression until the ringing 
Halt ! ” of the sergeant checked them 
opposite the dear old hostelry, ^^The Dim- 
mere Arms.” Then, once, twice, thrice, 
their hearty huzzas rang out with a roar of 
glad home-coming, and then around their 
necks were twined the arms of sisters, and 
other lads’ sisters, and the cheering was 
sharply smothered with somewhat quite as 
cheering. Oh, it is good to get back home 
again after times like theirs ! Home ” had 
a new meaning, as when a blinded man 
once again is permitted to see a sunset and 
deems it the most marvellous thing on earth, 
yet thought lightly of it as an every-day 
affair in the time before the dark came 
down upon him. And then at last the 
village-folk had a fair chance to look at 
them. 

‘‘ Beant they black-loike ! ” was the first 
cry; and ^^’Owvunny ’ee dost talk!” the 
second. Swarthy they surely were with 
much campaigning under a Southern sun and 
further bronzing on the wild Atlantic sailing 
east ; and years of converse with Carolinian 
loyalists in the field, and Yankee guards in 

19 


290 


ON GUARD. 


prison-life, had given a weird tang to the 
mother-tongue. Scarred were their faces, 
too, where the sabres of Colonel Washing- 
ton’s men had so deeply bitten, and round 
were the eyes of awe with which those scars 
were regarded by the village lads. 

Then the sergeant spoke for all in an 
imperative demand for home news, — who 
was married ? who was buried ? and what 
had been heard of the young captain ? 

Then came news indeed, unbelievable 
and otherwise. 

The captain married and coming home ! 
— easy. 

Married a copper-coloured princess, — 
slightly difficult of belief to men who had 
campaigned with Egerton, and the men 
grinned at each other. 

He’d found and was bringing home a 
cousin, — interesting, if true. 

Said cousin’s titled name was Major 
Stuart Schuyler, — and right here a yell of 
astonishment went skyward. Then a dead 
silence as they looked blankly, alternately 
at each other and their newsmonger. Then 
another yell. 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 291 

^^Know him?’’ Did they not? Who 
better ? And to think that after all he was 
of the old Dunmere breed when they traced 
his pedigree. The wosbird ! ” And the 
roar sank to a growl of hearty admiration, 
and the talk to a happy, continuous hum. 
But to think of it ! — and for many a day 
when the work was done, and the men 
gathered for the evening, tales of Stuart’s 
doings in the Carolinas were told and told 
again, retwisted and once more told, till 
Stuart himself would have been the last to 
recognize them. 

Meanwhile, for an unrecorded number of 
hours, a little troop had been directing their 
horses toward Dunmere Castle. Stout, well- 
fed, steady-going English nags were the 
horses of the men ; and two of the latter kept 
habitually a keen outlook as they passed 
over the rolling English down. It was an 
unknown country to them. The other 
two, master and man, gazed eagerly for- 
ward, hailing with delight now and then 
a well-remembered landmark. Once the 
broadest shouldered of the company said 
sharply : 


292 


ON GUARD. 


Watch out, Gavin ! ” as his eye marked a 
horseman halting in a distant hollow for a 
sight at them. But the gaze of the stranger 
showed him well-furnished holsters, and 
riders who looked as though they might be 
exceedingly careless in their use of the con- 
tents, to say naught of a sword or two that 
swung with the easy sway of a weapon that 
came readily to hand, all matters worthy of 
consideration by honest highwaymen when 
connected with broad-backed young men 
like those riding yonder. So the waiting 
horseman suddenly concluded that it would 
be inadvisable to tarry longer, and spurred 
away. 

And yet two of the party were as fair 
young ladies as one often saw on English 
roads, or that ever wore a plain gold ring 
on the significant finger that it makes most 
precious, guiding their palfreys by gentle 
hands that nevertheless had received their 
training in more than one wild canter across 
a Massachusetts pasture on the young 
horses there, while the kine were filing 
slowly home, and no man or boy by pos- 
sible chance could happen to be looking; 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 293 

while two more of the company were mani- 
festly maids to the above ladies, and although 
somewhat inclined to make frightened re- 
marks when speed increased, were objects 
of awe only to Gavin Paynt and his riding 
mate. To Gavin they were indeed a terror, 
as they had long since found out. Trust 
them for that ! (Another story might be 
told, right here, of Gavin's fortunes in this 
new land, where battle-marks like his were 
honours to the eyes of maids, who laughed 
by themselves to see for once a soldier’s 
bashfulness. Ever before they had deemed 
that to be an unknown quantity, — possible 
but never seen.) 

In due time the face of the country 
changed, and with curiously watchful eyes 
Stuart Schuyler found himself riding down 
a road, lodge-guarded, amid giant oaks the 
like of which he had not seen, — a road lead- 
ing to the very heart of a vast estate. 
There was an odd excitement about every 
foot of progress. Here his father before 
him doubtless rode, back in the unknown 
past. Here he himself was riding to 
make the acquaintance of his grandfather,” 


294 


ON GUARD. 


as he expressed it with Yankee irreverence, 
side by side with this frank-faced cousin 
to whom these trees were far from new, 
and who was smiling amusedly at the 
eager looks with which this new land was 
scanned by both stately Pearl and laugh- 
ing Ehoda, though never a thrill of awe 
felt he at matters which so impressed 

them. 

In all truth, however, of the entire party, 
Lord Egerton was by far the most nervous 

then. He did not need to make the ac- 
quaintance of his grandfather.” He was 
well acquainted with that nobleman al- 
ready, likewise with the temper of his 
cousin. The colonel, young though he 
was, yet was a master of men as became 
his breed, and if the Duke were to take 
a perverse whim and criticise ever so 
slightly Pearl or Ehoda, now! — but then 
— how could he, when he had once seen 
them ? That was the encouragement of 
substantial facts plus a lover’s wisdom 
which, after all, of fact recks little. And 
long ere the gray-stoned Dunmere towers 
loomed massively through the trees, he 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 295 

was his cheery self again, regardless as to 
what trouble perverse fate might have in 
store. 

To do him even scant justice, the Duke 
had fought out a hard struggle with him- 
self, and had come off winner, and yet 
weary. A generation back he had made 
one mistake. He would not make that 
again. If Egerton had really made an 
idiot of himself, and brought home a copper- 
coloured princess, — here he gulped down 
something with an effort, — why, for the 
boy’s sake, copper-colour should become the 
fashion ! Why not ? — what gain in other 
courses? He was Dunmere’s boy. Yes, 
copper should rule even if George’s boy had 
followed the same evil example and brought 
another ! And with that virtuous resolve, 
he seized Mr. Yandervere’s arm for a con- 
stitutional, with unexpected vigour, — a 
matter which somewhat hastened an im- 
portant meeting, for, as he turned out of 
a private bypath, he met our little com- 
pany face to face. 

Up went Stuart’s gauntlet with the old 
instinctive gesture of command. 


296 


ON GUARD. 


Halt!” 

The Duke started, straightened up, and 
seemed to grow taller and larger as that 
deep-toned voice broke upon his ear, so 
strong and masterful, although the com- 
mand was not for him but for others ; and 
his old eyes flashed with the old fire as, 
with the word, the horses were reined back 
so sharply that more than one of them 
showed a tendency to rear. 

Dismount ! 

Each man sprang to earth on the instant, 
the aged Duke eying the proceeding with 
a glance that seemed to speak of days of 
his own with the cavalry at some time. 
Then the two young men of the front rank^ 
so like, and yet so unlike in frame and 
form and manner, each stepped forward to 
the level of their horses’ heads, clicked 
their heels together with military precision, 
and saluted that astonished nobleman, 
the head of their house. Then stood there, 
silently at attention. 

For nearly a minute the Duke spoke not 
one word. His eye rested lovingly for a 
moment on the face of Lord Egerton, now 













-Jj fs>' >/*i '• - " -. -'r»' 

^ ' * 4 '/ ’ * • ?V 



■‘V T 



PKV^ ** 

' £-.**•> V 

•- ' ':;-''>'^7-v-.'viiiB 

- 'V-;' 

• ■ ^ '■ • i ^ *• 

■h^hSm^ ^-^ i- ' 


®* V* '■• ■' -i^ "* 


rr tL« 






k 




' ’.W ji^»- w ^ • ■ 'V ‘ 

i* '^n r. , . r . 

I ■■'■‘‘ ' '’ ■ ' iTv" ■ ' vi*' 'V "^ '■ 

^■.V< 




' ^''.■♦■. .. ■• ■ lift V ’ u 

- -^ ^ , * ■ « . I ' . .,. - / ’ '- ■ ^ 

tt .' • •■■^" I': --■■-■ t- 

1^. K^&•■ 


.V, :? 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 


297 


slightly paler than its wont. It rested 
long and searchingly on the other’s, so 
calmly stern and strong, bronzed to so rich 
a colour through which the glow of health 
shone darkly. Then, still unspeaking, his 
eyes wandered upward and met two other 
faces gazing down at him, stately, proud, 
yet girlish in their way with a lovely 
serenity that no touch of anxiety, if felt, 
was permitted to undignify ; and there 
his straying glance was arrested as by 
superior command, and forms beyond re- 
mained as unseen as those who are not. 
Then, at last, he found his voice. Copper- 
coloured, indeed ! 

« Why, God bless my soul ! Yandervere, 
I had no idea that the colonies raised such 
girls as these ! ” Then St. George Y ander- 
vere smiled quietly to himself, and began 
to take snuff with vigorous satisfaction, for 
he knew that all was well. 

A joyous time it was that followed. And 
what a handclasp passed between Stuart 
and his guardian of old when once they 
were alone again together, — yet not quite 
alone, since Stuart’s arm was linked with 


298 


ON GUARD. 


Pearl’s in a way that had become second 
nature, — and the diplomat renewed his 
acquaintance with that young lady with 
a twinkle in his eye as he thought of 
their last meeting in the snowy woods of 
far-away Massachusetts, when he had 
sought for information in regard to this 
same young man, yet sought in vain. 

How both the girls did enjoy wandering 
all over that ancient pile of gray stone 
— Dunmere Castle ; and, to tell the truth, 
Stuart himself was not a whit behind 
them in his interest in this rugged cradle 
of his race, and passed hours thought- 
fully in the deepening shadows of its walls, 
or at sunset watching the yellow light 
stealing across the mere. Dunmere ” had 
a new meaning for him then, and for Pearl 
also, for all his thoughts were hers. 

Then one evening Lord Egerton and he 
strolled down to the village,” and it was 
great to see the rush for the young captain, 
and the respectful love and pleasure that 
glowed in the eyes of the men who had 
followed him beyond the seas ; while their 
interest in Stuart was plainly tinged with a 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 


299 


touch of what was very nearly awe. They 
could not forget his work at the Cowpens, 
for they had seen his handwriting on some 
of the wildest raiders among Tarleton’s 
men ; nor had they forgotten the story of 
how he had captured Jackson ; and Sergeant 
Wilde still remembered most vividly the 
race for Tarleton’s camp, when Stuart’s men 
surprised him out on patrol duty and taught 
him what that young man himself could 
do with a rifle while his horse was fairly 
flying. 

So the days, weeks, even months sped 
by, and the very stones of Dunmere seemed 
to be more sunny with the young life shel- 
tered by them once again, while the Duke 
grew perceptibly younger. Then came the 
announcement that it was time for Stuart 
to return home — and then came an ex- 
plosion. The Duke fairly stormed. 

This is your home ! ” he insisted indig- 
nantly, till Stuart was compelled to use 
plain language, and his Grace found he had 
run once more against a nature as sturdy 
as his own. 

This, my dear grandfather, is the home — 


300 ON GUARD. 

of my ancestors, not mine. As such it will 
always be very dear to me and mine, yet 
’tis a home made by others, not by me. 
The land where I was born is my real home, 
and that land needs me now to help to 
show it that when a soldier hangs up his 
sheathed sword upon the wall, he does not 
cease to fight for his country in its time of 
trial. We younger men now have to build 
up there a nation on the ruins of a com- 
munity which has lost from death or simple 
difference of opinion many of its best. By 
just so much the harder must those of us 
who are left put our shoulders to the task ; 
and you know well that to what he deems 
his duty no man of our race ever turns his 
back.’’ 

With that perhaps even a grandfather and 
a Duke at that might well be content. For 
this one there remained — not choice, but 
sheer necessity. 

Then, too, there was Rhoda. Curiously 
enough, the old nobleman felt a little in 
awe of his new granddaughter Pearl. A 
young lady who could merrily fence, thrust, 
and parry with St. George Vandervere in a 


WHAT THE DUKE SAID. 301 

game of wits until even that practised 
diplomat had to cry for quarter, who 
looked up suddenly and knowingly when 
the Duke quoted at the defeated one appro- 
priate epigrams from his favourite classics, 
and yet now and then was surprised with a 
look in her eyes so proud, so stately, and yet 
loving when Stuart passed by, perhaps with 
a caress, — she was a bit beyond him. But 
Rhoda, now, was another matter ; and the 
impish curl of her lip as, in disregard of 
whatever might be tradition in ducal 
granddaughters, she meditated some new 
prank concerning her ^^lord” (though not 
her master ”), was a constant delight to 
all concerned. Nevertheless, even she was 
mournful enough when the day of parting 
came, for even letters would be few and far 
between. 

I suppose what must be, must be,’^ she 
said, smiling behind her tears. And while 
you are building up that country that Stuart 
speaks of, I must stay behind and, some day, 
be a duchess.’' 

To which Pearl, no whit less moved, yet 
more contained, replied superbly : 


302 


ON GUAKD. 


Never mind, dear ! Make the best of 
it. You know it really can't be helped — 
now. And perhaps — even at home — it 
might have been hard to find for you just 
now another Stuart ! " 



I 



Stories of the Revolution 

By JOHN PRESTON TRUE, Author of Iron Stary" etc. 


SCOUTING FOR WASHINGTON 

A Story of the Days of Sumter and Tarleton. Illustrated by Clyde 
O. De Land. i2mo, decorated cloth, $1.50. 

A capital book for young readers. On a historical background, commendably accurate in 
its details, is sketched an imaginary tale of absorbing interest. — Brooklyn Times. 


MORGAN’S MEN 

In which are Narrated the Adventures of Stuart Schuyler, Captain of 
Cavalry in the Revolution. A Sequel to “ Scouting for Washington.” 
Illustrated by Lilian Crawford True. i2mo, decorated cloth, $1.20 net. 

The Boston Transcript calls it “ one of the best, if not the best, of the juvenile historical 
stories that have been issued this season.” 


ON GUARD! AGAINST TARLETON AND TORY 

Further Adventures of Stuart Schuyler. Illustrated by Lilian Crawford 
True. i2mo, decorated cloth, |i.20 net. 

This is the third and concluding volume in the stirring Stuart Schuyler 
Series, — stories of the American Revolution which have already de- 
lighted thousands of readers. The hero escapes many dangers, and 
renders valuable aid to General Greene in his campaign against Lord 
Cornwallis. The book abounds in stirring situations and battle pictures. 


By the same Author 

THE IRON STAR 

And what it saw on its Journey through the Ages from Myth to History. 
Illustrated by Lilian C. True. i2mo, decorated cloth, I1.50. 

A wonderfully ingenious little story, showing a child how man has developed from the 
days of primitive savagery. It is much easier to remember than any school manual, but 
in less than 150 pages the author spans the gap between the Stone Age and Miles 
Standish. — Boston Transcript. 


LITTLE, BROWN, Gf COMPANY 

Publishers, 254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 


77 )^ TROl^ PRESTON TRUE 

-£ UC XxVVyX^I Illustrated by Lilian Crawford 

^ j-v True . Small 4to . Decorated 

^ ^ ^ cloth, gilt top . . . Price, 1. 50 


Prof.C. H. Grandgent 
Harvard University 
Boston Transcript 


Bookseller j Chicago 


The Iren Star is a magnet. I shall give 
it to my eldest when I can let go of it myself. 

A wonderfully ingenious little story, show- 
ing a child how man has developed from the days 
of primitive savagery. It is much easier to re- 
member than any school manual, but in less 
than 150 pages the author spans the gap between 
the stone age and Miles Standish. 

A most beautiful story of evolution told for 
children in a manner sure to fascinate and hold 
their attention. 


The Outlook, This book in a most attractive narrative form 

Nevj York tells the story of the evolution of man from the 

prehistoric age, his mastery of metals till they 
served his purpose. The knowledge of the 
writer is so permeated with the imaginative 
quality that his story reads like an enchanting 
novel. 


Brooklyn Eagle 


Nevj York Times 
Christian Register, 
Boston 


Chicago Chronicle 


Told very skillfully and with a sustained 
interest that cannot help making it attractive 
to all young readers. 

A remarkable series of historical sketches. 

The story of early beginnings in civilization, 
and of the slow development and the delight of 
discovery, and the wild, free life of the first 
explorers has an unusual charm. 

A capital book for young readers, giving them 
all the thrill of stirring adventure and at the same 
time laying the foundation for a taste for solid 
historic learning. . . . Weaving loosely together 
a succession of stories, first mythical and later his- 
torical, it aims to give children an outline notion 
of the progress of man through the stone, the 
bronze, and the iron ages, from myth into his- 
tory as far as the beginnings of modern American. 
A happy conception happily carried out, and 
made more vivid and more likely to stick in the 
young memory by many beautiful illustrations. 


Little, Brown, iff Co., Publishers, sTreet“."'bo^?Sn 


New Illustrated Editions of 
Miss Alcott’s Famous Stories 


LITTLE MEN : Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys 

By Louisa M. Alcott. With fifteen full-page illustrations by Reginald 
B. Birch. Crown 8vo. Decorated cloth. $ 2 . 00 . 

Nothing of its kind could be better than Miss Alcott’s “ Little Men,” unless, possibly, 
her “ Little Women.” ... It is the story of boys at school, and how they lived there. 
The boys will like it, for it will tell them of their own kind. The mothers will like it, for 
it is full of suggestions on the high art of governing. And everybody should read it, for it 
is cheery and like cordial from beginning to end. — Congregationalist. 

“ Little Men” has never been given to an admiring public in any form so charming as 
this one. All that was needed to make the tale quite irresistible was such illustrations as 
are here supplied, fifteen full-page ones instinct with life and movement and charm. — 
Boston Budget, 

LITTLE WOMEN : or Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy 

By Louisa M. Alcott. With 15 full-page illustrations by Alice Barber 
Stephens. Crown 8vo. Decorated cloth. $ 2 . 00 . 

No book for the young is better known than Miss Alcott’s famous 
Little Women.” It continues to have a wider reading and circulation 
than any other book of its class. Thousands of new readers will be 
delighted with this favorite book, in its new form, with Mrs. Stephens’s 
charming pictures. 

AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL 

By Louisa M. Alcott. With 12 full-page pictures by Jessie Willcox 
Smith. Crown 8vo. Decorated cloth. $ 2 . 00 . 

The third volume of “The Little Women Series.” Miss Alcott in this 
book described “ the good old fashions which make women truly beauti- 
ful and honored, and render home what it should be, — a happy place 
where parents and children, brothers and sisters, learn to love and know 
and help one another.” 


l^repatatfon 

NEW illustrated EDITIONS OF MISS ALCOTT’S OTHER BOOKS 

JO’S BOYS, and How They Turned Out. 

EIGHT COUSINS; or, The Aunt-Hill 
ROSE IN BLOOM. a Sequel to “Eight cousins” 

UNDER THE LILACS 

JACK AND JILL. A Village Story 


LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY 

Publishers, 254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 


New Books for Young People 


NATHALIE’S CHUM. By Anna Chapin Ray. Author of 
“Teddy: Her Book,” etc. Illustrated, i2mo, $1.20 

ON GUARD! AGAINST TARLETON AND TORY. By John 
Preston True, author of “ Morgan’s Men,” etc. Illustrated, i2mo, 
^1.20 net. 

THE ADVENTURES OF TORQUA. By Charles F. Holder. 
Illustrated, i2mo, ^1.20 net. 

BRENDA’S COUSIN AT RADCLIFFE. By Helen Leah 
Reed, author of “ Brenda : Her School and Her Club.” Illustrated, 
i2mo, $1.20 net. 

POLLY’S SECRET. A Story of the Kennebec. By Harriet 
A. Nash. Illustrated by Harry C. Edwards. i2mo, $1.20 //<?/. 

IN THE GREEN FOREST. Written and illustrated by Katha- 
rine Pyle, author of “ As the Goose Flies,” etc. Crown 8vo, $1.^0 net. 

JACK AND HIS ISLAND. By Lucy M. Thruston, author of 
“ A Girl of Virginia,” etc. Illustrated, i2mo, |i.20 net. 

CATHARINE’S PROXY. A Story of Schoolgirl Life. By 
Myra Sawyer Hamlin, author of “Nan at Camp Chicopee,” etc. 
Illustrated, i2mo, $1.20 net. 

FOXY THE FAITHFUL. By Lily F. Wesselhoeft, author of 
“ Sparrow the Tramp,” etc. Illustrated, i2mo, $1.20 net. 

GRANDMA’S GIRLS. By Helen Morris. Illustrated, i2mo, 
$1.20 net. 

THE PRINCESS KALLISTO AND OTHER TALES OF 
THE FAIRIES. By William Dana Orcutt. Illustrated, 4to, 
$2.00 net. 

A DORNFIELD SUMMER. By Mary M. Haley. Illustrated, 
i2mo, $1.20 net. 


LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY 

Publiskers, 2;4WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 




I 







m m 


^ ■ A 

;"-K* ■• ‘ ' ^ 












A,' 






1 ( t 








I ^ 


H i 


t’ 



Ifi^-"' . .. 
^■.Vi<i(' 






uA 


, I 




» ' 


./i. ' 


kif 


^ X'V' k' ’ ‘'^.' '■■ 

. .. * * * ii , . 







■ ,/ V ." , < ,•* •• '• I • •' 

VAi' ' «•*. -4 1 ... . 


r,\ 


^v;^*' * •/.• rl . 'i ' k 1"? t 



-V 1 


ry . 




4 * 




F; ^v' ^ ^ 7t* 4 V .''/■■ 

tt* ** W' 



r 


r 


f •• 


, ■»? 





• . » 


r < 

/ii 



P?» * 

" •*••«' "^ n 


• • » * # k 


7 I r 


. • > 


r 'i- 

■ . J * • 


» * * I 





•• f . 




r<* ■- 




' • - ** • 

■■■• V '>.vS':»V 

iii:!3« . 






^ I div . Vv'v r 









■. '• . ‘f v i¥ 

‘ •' y vl_: v;- . - •# 


0 • f*-.. 



. !r 


:? , vVf 


_ I % 


. / 


, { 


i: 


f '. 


- 


Vi.f' . 



I t 



•» - 


‘ /j# 1 

iM ;<v .- 

#i ;i 


.?. •« 


‘ I 




<} i\ 



; 


’!■ 


’iV 


{!’ i'>:'^ C‘ 

’"-I: ••'?, 


1 - 


r 





- k 


,^-j^yV.. V* 

. ' 


f- 


■ I 







.' / 




V • V 


’ < 







.'Lr - 4^ir.;^.V 


~rr^i 


'jfr > ' n ^ ‘ 


r 


' ■ ^ ' ■ »vi'\ "*■* * 

'•4 » ^ V 


ifJ 


,' > \ 


j 


■ 

1*4:4^ ^ Vi^* '• 

.V- '?, 

.* 4 V . » 




r ; 




< » 


4 ", 


'^ 4 J 





' .* . -■ -r * « 

-#,:.. ■■y 

•■ • i < 












/ 


ft 


) 


I 




